Brooke Aggarwal, EdD, MS, FAHA

  • Assistant Professor of Medical Sciences (in Medicine) at CUMC
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Overview

Dr. Brooke Aggarwal is an Assistant Professor of Medical Sciences in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. As a behavioral scientist and clinical health education specialist, her program of research focuses on the impact of behavioral and psychosocial factors on adherence to cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines, and the application of novel educational strategies to improve lifestyle behaviors.

Dr. Aggarwal has a background in psychology, exercise physiology, and health behavior, and completed an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral research fellowship in preventive cardiology at Columbia University Medical Center. She currently serves as Principal Investigator of two national awards including 1) a population-based study examining the association of sleep patterns and cardiometabolic risk among a new cohort of women, and 2) a study designed to conduct deep phenotyping and examine changes in markers associated with adverse weight gain during menopause using a precision medicine platform. She is the Director of Training for the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network at Columbia University Medical Center. In addition to her research activities, Dr. Aggarwal is a member of the Institute of Human Nutrition teaching faculty and serves as Co-Course Director of Integrative Nutrition and Pathophysiology.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Medical Sciences (in Medicine) at CUMC

Administrative Titles

  • Director of Training, Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network at CUMC
  • Principal Investigator, Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network at CUMC

Gender

  • Female

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • EdD, Health and Behavior Studies, Columbia University, Teachers College
  • MS, Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, George Washington University Medical Center
  • Fellowship: Columbia University Medical Center

Committees, Societies, Councils

Member, The Obesity Society

Member, Research Funding Subcomittee, American Heart Association

Member, Council on Epidemiology & Prevention and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometablic Health, American Heart Association

Honors & Awards

Lewis Katz Cardiovascular Research Prize, Columbia University (2022)

Progress at the Heart Award, Harmony Biosciences (2022)

Elected as a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine (2022)

Appointed to 2021 AHA/ACC Race and Ethnic Groupings in Clinical Trials Data Standards Committee (2020)

Best of AHA Specialty Conferences recognition for top 10 percent of abstracts (2019)

Elected as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) (2019)

Selected for the NIH Early Career Reviewer Program, Center for Scientific Review (2019)

Appointed to the AHA National Research Committee (2018-2020)

Invited Faculty, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Research Leaders Academy (2017)

NIH Translational Science/Columbia University Irving Institute Clinical Trials Office Pilot Award (2012)

NIH Summer Institute on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions (2011)

Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Reach for the First R01 Award Trainee (2011)

Leadership and Management Institute for Women Leaders in Academic Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University (2010)

NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Award, National Heart Lung & Blood Institute (2009-13)

Research Dissertation Fellowship Award, Office of Policy and Research, Teachers College, Columbia University (2008)

Graduate of the Federal Government Emerging Leaders Program, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005)

 

Research

"We chose to study sleep in particular because women are vulnerable to the effects of lack of sleep at various points in their lives: pregnancy, new motherhood, menopause and postmenopause, and caring for an ailing spouse."

Dr. Aggarwal's research lab is evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease and sleep patterns in a diverse population of women throughout various life stages. The team is conducting a prospective observational study to evaluate sleep patterns, caregiving, lifestyle and psychosocial risk factors, and the relation between sleep patterns, markers of inflammation, and cardiovascular health outcomes in a new population-based cohort of female community members and family members/friends of patients hospitalized at an academic urban medical center. The goal of the research is to provide new insight into potential pathways through which sleep may be linked to cardiac risk in women.

For more information: https://www.columbiacardiology.org/research-labs/aggarwal-lab

Research Interests

  • Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine
  • Preventive cardiology
  • Psychosocial Factors
  • Sleep
  • Women's health

Grants

PREDICTORS OF WEIGHT CHANGE DURING THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION USING A PRECISION MEDICINE PLATFORM: DEFINING A PHENOTYPE (Private)

Aug 1 2020 – July 31 2022

SLEEP AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ACROSS WOMEN S LIFE STAGES(Private)

Apr 1 2016 - Mar 31 2020

SLEEP AND CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK IN DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES IN A DIVERSE POPULATION OF WOMEN(Private)

Apr 1 2016 - Mar 31 2020

GENDER RACE AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES RESEARCH IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION(Federal Gov)

Sep 15 2010 - Jun 30 2015

FAMILY CARDIAC CAREGIVER INVESTIGATION TO EVALUATE OUTCOMES (FIT-O)(Federal Gov)

Aug 17 2009 - Jul 31 2012


Selected Publications

Aggarwal B, Liao M, Mosca L. Physical Activity as a Potential Mechanism through which Social Support May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2008; 23(2):90-6.

Mosca L, Mochari H, Liao M, Christian AH, Edelman D, Aggarwal B, Oz M. A Novel Family-based Intervention Trial to Improve Heart Health (FIT Heart): Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 2008; 1:98-106.

Aggarwal B, Mosca L. Heart Disease Risk for Female Cardiac Caregivers. The Female Patient. 2009;34: 1- 4.

Aggarwal B, Liao M, Christian A, Mosca L. Influence of Caregiving on Lifestyle and Psychosocial Risk Factors among Family Members of Patients Hospitalized with Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2009; 24(1):93-8.

Aggarwal B, Mosca L. Lifestyle and Psychosocial Risk Factors Predict Non-Adherence to Medication. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2010; 40(2):228-33.

Aggarwal B, Liao M, Allegrante JP, Mosca L. Low Social Support Level is Associated with Non-Adherence to Diet at 1-Year in the Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health (FIT Heart). Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2010; 42(6): 380-88.

Aggarwal B, Liao M, Mosca L. Predictors of Physical Activity at 1-Year in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2010; 25(6):444-9.

Mosca L, Mochari-Greenberger H, Aggarwal B, Liao M, Suero-Tejeda N, Comellas M, Rehm L, Umann TM, Mehran R. Patterns of Caregiving among Patients Hospitalized with Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2011;26(4):305-311.

Mosca M, Aggarwal B. Sleep Duration, Snoring Habits, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in an Ethnically Diverse Population. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2012 May-Jun;27(3):263-9.

Mosca L, Aggarwal B, Mochari-Greenberger H, Liao M, Blair J, Cheng B, Comellas M, Rehm L, Suero-Tejeda N, Umann T. Association between Having a Caregiver and Clinical Outcomes 1 Year after Hospitalization for Cardiovascular Disease. American Journal of Cardiology. 2012;109:135-139.

Mochari-Greenberger H, Mosca M, Aggarwal B, Umann T, Mosca L. Caregiver Status: A Simple Marker to Identify Patients at Risk for Longer Post-Operative Length of Stay, Rehospitalization or Death. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2013; 2014 Jan-Feb;29(1):12-9.

Villanueva C, Aggarwal B. The Association between Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Clinical Outcomes for Patients One Year after Hospitalization for Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of Community Health. 2013;38(4):690-7.

Aggarwal B, Liao M, Mosca L. Medication Adherence is Associated with Having a Caregiver Among Cardiac Patients. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2013; 46(2):237-42.

Blair J, Volpe M, Aggarwal B. Challenges, Needs and Experiences of Recently Hospitalized Cardiac Patients and their Informal Caregivers: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2014 Jan-Feb;29(1):29-37.

Aggarwal B, Pender A, Mosca L, Mochari-Greenberger H. Factors Associated with Medication Adherence among Heart Failure Patients and their Caregivers. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. 2015;5(3):22-27.

Aggarwal M, Aggarwal B, Rao J. Integrative Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease and Prevention. Medical Clinics of North America. 2017; 101 (5): 895-923.

Makarem N, Aggarwal B. Gender Differences in Associations between Insufficient Sleep and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Endpoints. Gender and the Genome. 2017; 1(2): 80-88.

St-Onge MP, Crawford A, Aggarwal B. Plant-based diets: Reducing cardiovascular risk by improving sleep quality? Current Sleep Medicine Reports. 2018; 4: 74-78.http://rdcu.be/Gij8

Pizinger T, Aggarwal B, St-Onge MP. Sleep Extension in Short Sleepers: An Evaluation of Feasibility and Effectiveness for Weight Management and Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2018.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00392/full

Aggarwal B, Makarem N, Shah R, Emin M, Wei Y, St-Onge MP, Jelic S. The Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Inflammation in Women: Findings from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2018;7:e008590.https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.008590

Taylor JL, Makarem N, Shimbo D, Aggarwal B. Gender Differences in Associations between Stress and Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes. Gender and the Genome. 2018; 2(4): 111-122.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2470289718820845

Aggarwal M, Bozkurt B, Panjrath G, Aggarwal B, Ostfeld RJ, Barnard ND, Gaggin H, Freeman AM, Allen K, Madan S, Massera D, Litwin S, on behalf of American College of Cardiology's Nutrition and Lifestyle Committee of the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council. Lifestyle Modifications for Prevention and Treatment of Heart Failure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2018; 72 (19): 2391-2405.http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/72/19/2391

Byun S, Mayat Z, Aggarwal B, Parekh N, Makarem N. Quantity, Quality, and Timing of Carbohydrate Intake and Blood Pressure. Invited to Current Nutrition Reports. 2019.https://rdcu.be/bE6rK

St-Onge MP, Aggarwal B, Jelic S. Napping: Is it really a means by which short sleepers can have their cake and eat it too? Journal of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. 2019; 3: 24.http://jeccm.amegroups.com/article/view/5137/html

Makarem N, St-Onge MP, Liao M, Lloyd-Jones D, Aggarwal B. Association between Sleep Patterns and Cardiovascular Health among Women and Differences by Race/Ethnicity and Menopausal Status: Findings from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network. Sleep Health. 2019.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721819301020

Byun S, Bello N, Liao M, Makarem N, Aggarwal B. Associations of weight cycling with cardiovascular health using American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 in a diverse sample of women. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2019; 16.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335519301627

Shah R, Makarem N, Emin M, Liao M, Jelic S,Aggarwal B. Mediterranean Diet Components are Linked to Greater Endothelial Function and Lower Inflammation in a Pilot Study of Ethnically Diverse Women. Nutrition Research. 2020.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531719306700

Zuraikat FM, Makarem N, Liao M, St-Onge MP, Aggarwal B. Measures of Poor Sleep Quality Are Associated With Higher Energy Intake and Poor Diet Quality in a Diverse Sample of Women From the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2020;9:e014587.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.014587

Mayat Z, Giardina EG, Liao M, Aggarwal B.The Association of Sleep Patterns, Physical Activity, and Inflammation in a Diverse Population of Women. Journal of Women’s Health. Jul 2020. 1007-1016.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.2019.7663

Makarem N, Paul J, Giardina EG, Liao M, Aggarwal B. Evening Chronotype is Associated with Poor Cardiovascular Health and Adverse Health Behaviors in a Diverse Population of Women. Chronobiol Int. 2020 Mar 4:1-13.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07420528.2020.1732403

Zuraikat F, Makarem N, St-Onge M-P, Xi H, Akkapeddi A, Aggarwal B. A Mediterranean dietary pattern predicts better sleep quality in US Women. Nutrients. 2020; Sep 16;12(9):E2830.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/9/2830