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Yan Du, PhD, MPH, RN

Assistant Professor

I have an interdisciplinary training background in Nursing, Community Health and Behavioral Science, and Aging Studies. My research focuses on improving chronic disease management (type 2 diabetes, ADRD), maintaining function and independence, and promoting aging in place through health technology solutions. My research agenda falls into two major categories: 1) exploring the integration of social factors, lifestyle behavior modifications, and omics to develop omics guided, social environment tailored, and technology assisted personalized lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management; and 2) using community-based approach to promote and deliver lifestyle interventions with technologies to improve physical and cognitive function in the aging population for independent living. I was a CAST/NIH TL1 scholar in translation science during my postdoctoral training, and was trained in applying digital health for chronic disease management and healthy aging. Collaborating with scholars from interrelated disciplinaries, I have been at the forefront of exploring and translating evidence-based lifestyle interventions in chronic disease management and functional improvement, especially in the vulnerable populations (e.g., minorities, immigrants, older adults) to decrease health disparities.