Morgana Mongraw-Chaffin, PhD, MPH, FAHA

Morgana Mongraw-Chaffin, PhD, MPH, FAHA, is the scientific director of Population Health Research at MedStar Health Research Institute.

Her current research focuses on the mechanisms of glucose homeostasis. She utilizes continuous glucose monitors as an innovative, low-burden, big-data measurement tool to overcome longstanding barriers in the field. Dr. Mongraw-Chaffin is particularly interested in promoting the equitable implementation of new technologies, such as continuous glucose monitors and other wearable devices. She sees the potential for remote monitoring technology to reduce disparities by addressing barriers to research participation and improving access to and utilization of care.

Dr. Mongraw-Chaffin has a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration both nationally and internationally, covering a wide range of topics related to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. She is involved in analyzing data from numerous extensive cohort studies, including the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA), the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC), and the Look AHEAD trial. Additionally, she is a member of the Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease Collaboration, an international cohort pooling project.

Dr. Mongraw-Chaffin is the Chair-Elect of the American Heart Association Obesity Science Subcommittee and the Director of the Human Studies Consultation Core for the North Carolina Diabetes Research Center. Previously, she was an Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Prevention at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Her training includes a BA in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley, a PhD in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 2013, and completion of postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego.

Research Interests

Dr. Barac's research interests include

• Epidemiology
• Obesity
• Continuous glucose monitor
• Remote monitoring and wearable technology
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Women’s health

Selected Research

MESA Glucose Homeostasis uses continuous glucose monitors to investigate the role of glucose homeostasis and dysglycemia across the full range of glucose in development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease. The goal is to determine which aspects of dysglycemia increase cognitive risk and contribute to disparities.
 
Other recent studies use continuous glucose monitors as a remote monitoring and measurement tool to reach groups traditionally excluded from research (Meals for Moms), and multiple concurrent wearable devices to improve estimation of activities of daily living.

Professional Positions

• Chair Elect, Obesity Science Subcommittee, American Heart Association
• Director, Human Studies Consultation Core, North Carolina Diabetes Research Center

Memberships