Kristen Boyle, PhD

Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Nutrition


FacultyPhoto
Graduate Schools
  • MS, Ohio University (2005)
  • PhD, East Carolina University (2009)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of Massachusetts–Amherst (MA) (2001)
Languages
English
Department
Pediatrics-Nutrition

Professional Titles

  • Co-Director, Basic Science Research Track, LEAD Center
  • Associate Director, Nutrition Obesity Research Center Pilot Award Program

Recognitions

  • Elected Member Basic Science Council, Perinatal Research Society (2023)
  • William Hansel Visiting Scientist Lecture, Pennington Biomedical Research Center (2021)
  • Women’s Health Research Day Poster Award, University of Colorado Center for Women's Health Research (2016)
    Awarded to top 5 abstract presentations of ~30
  • President's Oral Session Abstract Selection, American Diabetes Association (2015)
    Top 8 abstracts of over 4,000
  • Young Investigator Travel Grant Award Recipient, American Diabetes Association (2015)
    Awarded to junior scientist presenters of top abstracts
  • Award Recipient, NIH Loan Repayment Program (2014)
  • Women’s Health Research Day Poster Award, University of Colorado Center for Women's Health Research (2013)
    Awarded to top 5 abstract presentations of ~30
  • Travel Award , Seahorse Bioscience (2012)
  • Award Recipient, NIH Loan Repayment Program (2011)
  • Department of Biological Sciences Travel Grant, Ohio University (2003)
  • Commonwealth Scholar, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2001)
  • Academic Scholarship, State of Connecticut (1996)
  • Academic Scholarship, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1996)

Research Interests

I have a robust foundation in obesity research, with 18 years dedicated to identifying and understanding metabolic phenotypes in primary human stem cells. My research program aims to understand how fetal exposures predispose infants to metabolic disease later in life. In pursuit of this goal, my lab pioneered the use of mesenchymal stem cells collected from umbilical cord tissue of newborn infants to investigate molecular and metabolic phenotypes predictive of future disease risk. Such tools have allowed us to identify children most at risk for excess adiposity in childhood with greater precision than other common measures collected at birth. As we move toward precision approaches for obesity prevention, infant stem cells will help to identify gestational exposures most impactful, and their modifiability through pregnancy interventions, thereby informing evidence-based prenatal clinical care.

Publications

  • Gyllenhammer LE, Zaegel V, Duensing AM, Lixandrao ME, Dabelea D, Bergman BC, Boyle KE. Lipidomics of infant mesenchymal stem cells associate with the maternal milieu and child adiposity. JCI Insight. 2024 Sep 3;9(19). PubMed PMID: 39226911
  • Semnani-Azad Z, Gaillard R, Hughes AE, Boyle KE, Tobias DK, Perng W. Precision stratification of prognostic risk factors associated with outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Commun Med (Lond). 2024 Jan 12;4(1):9. PubMed PMID: 38216688
  • Starling AP, Friedman C, Boyle KE, Adgate JL, Glueck DH, Allshouse WB, Calafat AM, Bloemsma LD, Dabelea D. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and early childhood adiposity and cardiometabolic health in the Healthy Start study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2024 Feb;48(2):276-283. PubMed PMID: 38042932
  • Waldrop SW, Niemiec S, Wood C, Gyllenhammer LE, Jansson T, Friedman JE, Tryggestad JB, Borengasser SJ, Davidson EJ, Yang IV, Kechris K, Dabelea D, Boyle KE. Cord blood DNA methylation of immune and lipid metabolism genes is associated with maternal triglycerides and child adiposity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2024 Jan;32(1):187-199. PubMed PMID: 37869908
  • Erickson ML, Dobias D, Keleher MR, Dabelea D, Bergman BC, Broussard JL, Boyle KE. In Vitro Circadian Clock Gene Expression Assessments in Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Infants: A Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2023 Dec 23;16(1). PubMed PMID: 38201882

Professional Memberships

  • The Obesity Society, Member
  • American Diabetes Association, Member
  • American Society for Nutrition, Member, Past Chair: Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition Research Interest Section

Practice Locations

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Center Affiliations
Public Speaking
Yes
I am available to speak about health during pregnancy (obesity, diabetes, exercise) and how this impacts the children.