PhD
December 21, 2022
Evaluating the impact of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Policies in California Jails
Approximately 130 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Those exposed to the criminal legal system (CLS) through arrests and/or incarcerations have high rates of opioid use disorders (OUD) and associated adverse outcomes. Access to medications for OUD treatment (MOUD) during incarceration and post-release increases community engagement in treatment and reduces opioid use and…
Effects of HIV exposure, TB and HIV treatment, and isoniazid preventive therapy on prognosis and growth trajectories of children
Introduction: Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services (PMTCT) have enabled the vast majority of pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) to give birth to HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children. Evidence suggests that birth weight and birth length are lower in HEU than in HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) children,…
Integrating epidemiologic and molecular methods to improve vaginal health
Challenges measuring the microbiome and limited incorporation of epidemiologic methods in microbiome science have hindered the progress of vaginal microbiome research, and major questions in the field remain unanswered despite decades of work. This dissertation seeks to address these gaps by describing measurement error and resulting bias in vaginal microbiota research; evaluating the state of…
Novel Estimation of Genetic Relationship Matrix (GRM) and Comparisons of Different GRMs in Mega- and Meta- GWAS, in the NHLBI TOPMed Program
This dissertation is a collection of statistical tools developed to create genetic relationship matrices for genome-wide association studies, and their application to epidemiological studies of sleep duration in the NHLBI TOPMed program. In chapter one, we proposed a Bayesian method to estimate inbreeding and kinship coefficients, thereby creating a novel Bayesian genetic relationship matrix. In…
The Role of Maternal Height in Pregnancy Outcomes and Complications
Background: Adult height reflects not only an individual’s genetic make-up but also their early life environmental exposures, socioeconomic status, infectious disease history, nutrition, and growth and development. Increasing evidence suggests an inverse association of height with the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease among men and non-pregnant women. Studies of the association of…
Contraceptive Decision-Making and Use Among Latina Adolescents Aged 18-19 in the United States
Contraceptives offer individuals who do not want to become pregnant one form of reproductive autonomy. They are safe and effective when used correctly, and in the case of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), are associated with very low failure rates, user independence, and convenience. For adolescents, who are beginning to engage in sexual activity, and are…
Experience of Being Bullied, Depressive Symptoms, Suicidality, and Substance Use among Adolescents
Background: Depressive symptoms, suicidality, and the experience of having been bullied are prevalent among adolescents in the United States. In addition, substance use is also common among adolescents in the United States. Both the experience of depressive symptoms and suicidality and of having been bullied have been associated with substance use. However, the context in…
Cumulative Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Cancer Mortality in Screen-Eligible Older Adults with History of Adequate Screening
The decision of whether or not to continue colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at older ages is complex. Although most guidelines recommend routine screening of adults older than age 45 years for CRC, there is ambiguity on when to stop screening. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American Cancer Society, and the Multi-Society Task…
May 20, 2022
Antimicrobial Resistance in Enteric Bacteria Isolated from Kenyan Children at Discharge from Hospital
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is associated with millions of deaths per year worldwide. The global burden of AMR is disproportionately high in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily as a result of the high incidence of infectious diseases. Children who have been hospitalized and subsequently discharged in this region are at high risk for morbidity and mortality. It…
Elucidating barriers to malaria elimination: An analysis of the role of low-density and imported Plasmodium falciparum infections to onward malaria transmission
Despite yearly investments of more than US $4.1 billion dollars and extensive efforts, malaria continues to be one of the greatest contributors to morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. To continue to reduce the malaria burden, new control strategies, therapeutics, and vaccines are needed. While the malaria burden has declined since the last decade, the…
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