faculty profile

James Muchira PhD, MSN

Assistant Professor

Bio

Dr. Muchira investigates the influence of biological components (inflammation, genomics, and epigenetics) and neighborhood-level environmental stressors on intergenerational cardiovascular disease (CVD). Utilizing 70+ years of Framingham Heart Study data, his research reveals notable findings: children of heart-healthy parents gain nearly 10 extra CVD-free years, with maternal heart health more predictive of offspring's CVD onset than paternal. Dr. Muchira studies the social determinants of health within the domain of neighborhood and the built environment. His research indicates that although CVD is linked to common risks, like obesity, poor diet, and inactivity, over 70% of risk is attributed to the environmental exposures. He uses the exposome approach to address health disparities, providing personalized CVD care by evaluating multilevel CVD exposures in patients' contexts. This approach aims to break the cycle of intergenerational CVD, fostering healthier lives for parents and their children.

Education

PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston
MSN, University of Massachusetts Boston
BSN, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

Current Research/Scholarly Interests

Mother-child heart health
Environmental exposures
CVD-inflammatory markers
Air quality

Academic Interests

Social determinants of health
Exposome
Arterial stiffness
Clinical trials
CVD epigenetics

Current Projects

Family-based assessment of neighborhood-level environmental stressors (area deprivation index, neighborhood stress, household chaos and air pollution)
Measuring inflammatory markers (leptin, CRP and adiponectin) and aortic stiffness and central aortic blood pressure

Representative Publications

Journals

For full publication list, visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/james.muchira.1/bibliography/public/

Muchira JM, Gona PN, Mogos MF, et al. Association of Parental Cardiovascular Health With Disability-Adjusted Life Years in the Offspring: Results From the Framingham Heart Study. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2023;16(1):e008809. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.121.008809

Muchira JM. Editorial: The effects of coffee intake on the risk of cardiovascular disease. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022;29(17):2238-2239. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwac257

Muchira JM, Mogos MF, Park C, Logan J, Piano MR. A Mother-Child Dyadic Approach to Evaluating Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Young Children: A Feasibility Study. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Published online September 2, 2022.doi: 1097/JCN.0000000000000944. doi:10.1097/JCN.0000000000000944

Muchira, J. M., Gona, P. N., Mogos, M. F., Stuart-Shor, E., Leveille, S. G., Piano, M. R., & Hayman, L. L. Parental cardiovascular health predicts time to onset of cardiovascular disease in offspring. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2022;29(6):883-891. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaa072 (Editor's choice)

Muchira, JM, Heelan-Fancher L, Hayman LL. Maternal Cardiovascular Health and Adverse Childbirth Outcomes in the United States: Analysis of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Published online April 9, 2021. doi:10.1097/JCN.0000000000000813

Book Chapters

Hayman, L. L & Muchira, J.M (2019). Primordial/Primary Prevention: Implications and Challenges for Families and Children (3rd edition, p.841-847). Lifestyle Medicine. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

Reviewer

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Journal of American Heart Association
British Medical Journal (BMJ) open
Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, PLOS One

Professional Organizations

American Heart Association
Sigma Theta Tau International
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

Honors/Awards

Jonas Policy Scholar, American Academy of Nursing - 2021/2022
Honorable Mention, The 2021 Postdoc of the Year Award, from the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs - 2021
Winning Abstract Award for Original Research category, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA's 27th Annual Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium) - 2021
2020 Research Article of the Year Award-American Heart Association Council of Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing - 2020
Anne Kibrick Graduate Nursing Award Winner (Merit-based award) - 2019
Winning Abstract Award, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA's 24th Annual Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium)-2018
PhD Nursing Program Outstanding Leadership Award - 2017
Merit-based Awards-Lynch Foundation Fund Nursing Fellowship - 2015 - 2019