Shristi Rawal, Ph.D.
My research takes a life-course approach to examine and address the nutritional and biopsychosocial risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases. To this end, one line of my research explores how taste and smell perception changes with exposures across the life span (e.g., smoking, viral infections), and act as biological drivers or markers of dietary behaviors and cardiometabolic disease risk.
Research Overview
Transforming Maternal Health Through Innovation
The second line of my research focuses on pregnancy as a critical time window that influences the short-and long-term cardiometabolic health of women and their children. My work has identified several early biomarkers, and dietary and lifestyle determinants of gestational diabetes (GDM), as well as risk factors for its progression to type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic complications such as renal dysfunction. I have also worked on several projects that examine the intergenerational impact of maternal nutrition and metabolic perturbations on neonatal outcomes, including birthweight, length, and adiposity.
Complementing these research endeavors, my research efforts are additionally geared towards developing mobile health (mHealth) approaches for the treatment and management of pregnancy complications such as GDM and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Research Team
The people behind the science
Kalpana Chaudhary
Research Associate
kalpanachaudhary@kusms.edu.np
Vanessa Martinez
Research Study Coordinator
vm310@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Tenzin Sangmo
Research Assistant
ts1153@sph.rutgers.edu
Aarthi Shanmugavel
Graduate Student
as3771@shp.rutgers.edu
Esra Mucahit
Research Work Study Student
em1117@gsbs.rutgers.edu
Jaya Dhungana
Graduate Student
dhunganajayu@gmail.com
Funding & Grants
Supported Research Programs
Federal, foundation, and institutional funding advancing predictive modeling of treatment responses
NIH/FIC
Development and Testing of a Mobile Health Application for Management of Gestational Diabetes
Learn More
Brief Overview of Aims: To develop and test a smartphone application (app) designed to support self-management and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among patients in a periurban hospital setting in Nepal.
Funding Period: 9/06/19 – 4/30/23
- 9/06/19 – 4/30/23
Rutgers SHP
Continuous Glucose Profiles during Pregnancy and Associations with Perinatal Outcomes
Learn More
Brief Overview of Aims: To characterize longitudinal changes in glycemia in twin and GDM-complicated pregnancies with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology and examine their associations with perinatal outcomes.
Funding Period: 9/1/2022 – 05/31/2024
- 9/1/2022 – 05/31/2024
Rutgers Global Health Institute
Development of Valid and Reliable Dietary and Physical Activity Assessments for a Birth Cohort Study in Kathmandu, Nepal
Learn More
Brief Overview of Aims: To develop valid and reliable dietary and physical activity assessments for use among pregnant women in a peri-urban Nepal setting.
Funding Period: 4/1/2018-3/31/2020
- 4/1/2018-3/31/2020
New Jersey Health Foundation
Feasibility and User Research for Developing an mHealth Application for Women at Increased Risk for Preeclampsia
Learn More
Brief Overview of Aims: To conduct formative user research in order to inform the design and development of a mobile app for women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Funding Period: 2/15/2022 – 2/15/2024
- 2/15/2022 – 2/15/2024
Busch Biomedical Grant Program
Methadone vs. Buprenorphine Therapy for Opioid Dependence: Diet and Metabolic Implications
Learn More
Brief Overview of Aims: To examine differences in sugar intake, weight gain, and glycemic control between patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment versus buprenorphine-naloxone treatment therapy.
Funding Period: 10/15/2018-2/28/2023
- 10/15/2018-2/28/2023
Publications & Impact
Selected Research Publications
2023
Reliability and Validity of a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire Adapted for use Among Pregnant Women in Nepal
Algallai N, Martin K, Shah K, Shrestha K, Daneault JF, Shrestha A, Shrestha A, Rawal S.
Arch Public Health. 2023 Feb 10;81(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s13690-023-01032-3. PMCID: PMC9912603
2022
Applying a User-Centric Design Approach to Develop a Mobile Application for Management and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes in Nepal
Shanmugavel A, Shakya P, Shrestha A, Nepal J, Shrestha A, Daneault JF, Rawal, S.
Curr Dev Nutr. 2022, Jun; 6(Suppl 1). doi: 1093/cdn/nzac061.097. PMCID: PMC9194287
2021
Self-Reported Olfactory Dysfunction and Diet Quality: Findings from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Rawal S, Duffy VB, Berube L, Hayes JE, Kant AK, Li CM, Graubard BI, Hoffman HJ.
Nutrients. 2021;13(12):4561. PMCID: PMC8704378
2018
Gestational Diabetes and Renal Function: A Prospective Study with 9 to 16 Year Follow-up after Pregnancy
Rawal S, Olsen SF, Grunnet LG, Ma RC, Hinkle SN, Granström C, Wu J, Yeung EH, Mills JL, Zhu Y, Bao W, Ley SH, Hu FB, Damm P, Vaag A, Tsai MY, Zhang C.
Diabetes Care. 2018; 41(7):1378-1384. PMCID: PMC6014536
2017
Dietary Iron Intake, Iron Status, and Gestational Diabetes
Zhang C & Rawal S.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2017; 106 (Suppl 6):1672S-1680S. PMCID: PMC5701716
Achievements
Awards & Honors
2023
Student abstract (Christopher Richter) selected among top abstracts submitted to 2023 American Public Health Association meeting, Food and Nutrition Section.
Student abstract (Samuel Gautier) selected for a full bursary award to travel and attend the 2023 Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium in Nantes, France.
Graduate student (Jenna White) selected for Goldstein Award in Public Health Nutrition by Rutgers School of Public Health.
2022
Student abstract (Jenna White) selected for travel scholarship to attend the 2022 American Public Health Association meeting in Boston, MA.
2021
Student abstract (Heather Seid) scored in the top 15% (out of 700+ abstracts) and recognized as a finalist for the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Abstract Recognition Award Program at the 2021 American Society for Nutrition Meeting.
2020
Excellence in Research Award, New Jersey Health Foundation
2018
Chancellor’s Diversity Scholar, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
2017
Fellows Award for Research Excellence, National Institutes of Health
Featured Article (Editor’s Choice), American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
2016
Fellows Award for Research Excellence, National Institutes of Health
2015
Intramural Research Training Award, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH
2014
Edward Victor Gant Scholarship Award, University of Connecticut
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Award, University of Connecticut
Get Involved
Join our Research
Interested in advancing ypur research? Reach out to Dr. Rawal
to learn more about opportunities to get involved.
