Project Title: Allostatic Load and Race: Implications for Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy and Beyond
Position: Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Funding NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of Nursing Research
Grant ID: R00NR020215
Mitali Ray, PhD, RN was born to Indian immigrants from Kolkata, West Bengal, in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where she grew up. Dr. Ray is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Development at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Her growing program of research applies epigenomic approaches to understand the intersection of chronic stress exposures, racial disparities, and cardiovascular disease, relative to pregnancy. Her deep love for science was sparked during an undergraduate prerequisite biology course when she learned about the structure and function of the protein, ATP synthase, in cellular respiration. She earned a BS in biology from Towson University, a PhD in biomedical sciences from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and an accelerated BS in nursing from West Chester University. Her postdoctoral training took place at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was supported by T32 programs in omics (School of Nursing) and cardiovascular disease epidemiology (School of Public Health), prior to the funding of her K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award. In addition to decoding disparities, Dr. Ray is strongly committed to developing a diverse research workspace and creating inclusive spaces for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent communities in science. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, immersing herself in arts, and following Philly sports.