Brittany Butts, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Butts' research focuses on pathophysiologic mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases and outcomes in persons living with cardiovascular disease, including symptoms and brain health. Dr. Butts first got involved in research during her undergraduate studies at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she studied the phylogenetic history of a species of coral, Acropora, that display a great amount of morphological variability, using genetic sequencing. As Dr. Butts moved into research at the graduate level, she realized she was lacking a solid understanding of human health and disease, a key component of translational research. To gain knowledge and hands-on clinical experience vital to meeting her research goals, Dr. Butts completed a BS degree in nursing at Georgia State University. Dr. Butts completed her doctoral training at Emory University, where she was able to successfully combine her basic science and clinical knowledge. Dr. Butts completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.
Dr. Butts is currently an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Nursing where she continues her translational research and teaches Pathophysiology. Her research contiues to have a translational approach to identifing pathophysiologic processes in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Butts has had multiple NIH-funded studies, including her current ongoing studies.
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PubMed Bibliography
Principal Investigator
Dr. Butts' research focuses on pathophysiologic mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases and outcomes in persons living with cardiovascular disease, including symptoms and brain health. Dr. Butts first got involved in research during her undergraduate studies at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she studied the phylogenetic history of a species of coral, Acropora, that display a great amount of morphological variability, using genetic sequencing. As Dr. Butts moved into research at the graduate level, she realized she was lacking a solid understanding of human health and disease, a key component of translational research. To gain knowledge and hands-on clinical experience vital to meeting her research goals, Dr. Butts completed a BS degree in nursing at Georgia State University. Dr. Butts completed her doctoral training at Emory University, where she was able to successfully combine her basic science and clinical knowledge. Dr. Butts completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.
Dr. Butts is currently an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Nursing where she continues her translational research and teaches Pathophysiology. Her research contiues to have a translational approach to identifing pathophysiologic processes in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Butts has had multiple NIH-funded studies, including her current ongoing studies.
CV
PubMed Bibliography
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Enid Swatson
Clinical Research Coordinator Enid is currently a second-year Master of Public Health Student at the Rollins School of Public Health focusing on Sexual Reproductive Health and Population studies. Prior to working with Dr. Butts, she was a graduate research assistant at the Rollins Global Health Department examining the associations between neurodevelopment and cardiovascular health in children and young adults. |
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Jordan Watson
Undergraduate Student Jordan is a third-year undergraduate student from Alpharetta, Georgia. She is majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and African American Studies. Her academic interest lies in increasing diversity and representation in clinical trials as a means of addressing inequities In health. She is passionate in her pursuit to understand how neurodegenerative diseases disproportionately affect minority populations and how access to healthcare can be improved in underserved communities. Her on campus involvements include Graduation Generation, Women’s Club Soccer, Emory Global Health Institute’s Student Advisory Committee, American Medial Student Association, and the Office of Undergraduate Admission’s Student Ambassador Program. |
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Erica Davis, PhD, RN
Postdoctoral Fellow Erica Davis completed her undergraduate degree in nursing at Howard University and her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at Emory University. Dr. Davis' dissertation was titled, Relationships among Dietary Patterns, Metabolites, and Symptoms in Persons with Heart Failure. |
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Andrea Madariaga
BSN Honors Research Thesis Project: Xanthine Oxidase and Dyspnea in Heart Failure Patients Andrea is a senior BSN student at Emory University School of Nursing. She is interested in critical care nursing as well as nursing research. Currently, Andrea is working with Dr. Butts on one of her many studies involving cardiovascular diseases, specifically focusing on heart failure pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. Working with Dr. Butts has allowed Andrea to challenge herself with new material and gain a deeper understanding of heart failure mechanisms. Outside of nursing, Andrea also likes hiking and reading! Andrea is presenting her thesis at the 2023 Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Conference. You can read her abstract here. |
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Julia Kamara
Undergraduate Student Julia Kamara is a first-year undergraduate student from Los Angeles, California. She is majoring in Nursing and hopes to pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner. Her interest in research lies in bringing more awareness to Alzheimer's and its precursors. Prior to working with Dr. Butts, Julia worked at the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center at Dr. Gomperts's lab, focusing on the effects that smoking and vaping have on the myoepithelial cells in the lungs. At Emory, she is involved as the Community Service Chair in the Complex Residence Hall Council, and she explores her Jewish heritage at Emory through Chabad and Hillel. In her free time, Julia loves to play tennis at the Woodruff P.E. Center and go on walks at Lullwater Park. |
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Hannah Hudson
BSN Honors Student Hannah Hudson is currently a Junior BSN student at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. She is currently working with Dr. Butts on her honors thesis examining the relationship between racial stress, physical symptom severity, and inflammation in Black adults with heart failure. Prior to working with Dr. Butts, she conducted research on food deserts within Atlanta with the Oxford Food Digest and participated in trauma related research at Grady Memorial Hospital. She currently serves as PHA Peer Mentor for the Office of Undergraduate Education and hopes to continue her education in a graduate NP program after her time at Emory. |
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We also work closely with the amazing research team in the Wharton Lab: https://www.whitneywhartonlab.org/our-team
Past Team Members
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Ashley Bostek BSN 2021 Honors Thesis Project: Increased Plasma Soluble Adhesion Molecules in Persons Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 Ashley presented her honors thesis project at the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Assocation conference in April 2021, where she won 2nd place for best poster. Catrina Smith BSN 2020 Catrina completed a independent study project, The Effects Of Exercise On Telomere Length In Persons With Heart Failure. Catrina presented her project at the Heart Failure Society of America conference in 2020. |
Jacob Moore BSN 2022 Honors Thesis Project: Diet and Inflammatory Cytokines in Black Adults with Heart Failure Jake presented his honors thesis project at the Southern Nursing Research Society conference in New Orleans, March 2022. Gianna Celenza MN 2022 Gianna's indepentent study was a comprehensive literature review, titled Shared Pathologic Mechanisms in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Alzheimer’s Disease. |