Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Tenure-Track Investigator (Clinical)
Principal Investigator
NIH Distinguished Scholar
Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit
Biobehavioral Branch
Research
Topic: The Joseph’s lab investigates the complexity of the interplay of biological and behavioral components in addressing symptoms and managing medical problems relevant to nursing science, with a special emphasis on metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes. The main focus of the laboratory is to understand the role of sensory science in metabolic disorders and use this information towards the development of novel treatments. Furthermore, the laboratory is interested in the interplay between metabolic disorders, sensory-related pathways and brain diseases, in particular alcohol and substance use disorders.
Issue: Each year, over 200,000 people visit a medical provider for chemosensory problems such as taste and smell disorders. When smell-taste perception is distorted and poorly treated, altered eating may still occur thus worsening health outcomes.
Impact: Dr. Joseph and her group are conducting pre-clinical, clinical and translational studies that aims to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and management of chemosensory disorders and symptoms. Dr. Joseph’s laboratory is leading research that is aimed at enhancing the understanding of molecular, cellular, neural, and behavioral mechanisms underlying symptoms to identify new targets for treatment and improve symptom management strategies. As a nurse and family nurse practitioner, Dr. Paule Joseph has worked extensively with individuals with diabetes and obesity, individuals undergoing weight loss surgery and alcohol and substance use disorders. Dr. Joseph brings a unique and necessary perspective to the study of chemosensory symptoms (taste and smell alterations) by incorporating both clinical and bench science approaches to unite three fields of science: nursing, sensory biology, and omics.
Research Protocols
Dr. Joseph is currently developing her clinical protocols and collaborating as an associate investigator in the following:
- Brain Dopamine Function in Human Obesity (18-DK-0132)
- GENE-FORECASTSM: Genomics, Environmental Factors and Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease in African-Americans Study (14-HG-0048)
- Exploring Gut-Brain and Brain-Gut Interactions in Alcohol Use Disorder via Microbiota Investigations: A Pilot Study (17-AA-0093)
- Unit and Clinic Evaluation, Screening, Assessment and Management (14-AA-0181)
Experience
- Assistant Clinical Investigator and Chief of the Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit (SenSMet) in the NINR Division of Intramural Research in 2017
- Faculty Research Associate Volunteer at the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Health System
- Completed a Clinical and Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship at NINR
- Performed postdoctoral research focused on combined clinical and basic research in a single research program through examining the brain-gut interactions related to gastrointestinal disorders (i.e., obesity and diabetes)
- Trained at The Monell Chemical Senses Center
- Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pace University and Hostos Community College
- Clinical Nurse at The Mount Sinai Hospital New York Campus and Weil Cornell
Accomplishments
- Lasker Clinical Scholar grant (2019)
- NIH Distinguished Scholars Program grant (2018)
- Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine
- International Transcultural Nurse Fellow
- NIH Future Research Leader, Office of Workforce Diversity
- Rockefeller University Heilbrunn Nurse Scholar grant
Education
- PhD, Nursing & Genomics; University of Pennsylvania
- Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner; Pace University
- BSN; College of New Rochelle
- AAS, Nursing; Hostos Community College
Associations/Certifications/Awards
- Editorial Board Member, Health Equity
- Editorial Board Member, Biological Research for Nursing
- Member, The Obesity Society (TOS)
- Member, Society of Sensory Professional
- Member, American Society of Human Genetics
- Member, African Society of Human Genetics
- Member, American Society of Nutrition (ASN)
- Member, Association for Chemoreception Sciences (ACHEMS)
- Member, Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS)
- Co-founder of the Latino Nurses Network
- Director of Career Development and Mentorship, The African Research Academies for Women
- Vice- President of Amazing Grace Children’s Foundation (AGCF) Ghana, West Africa
- Certified Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Transcultural Nurse, Basic (CTN-B); International Transcultural Nursing Society
- Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (BCLNC-C); American Society of Legal Nurse Consultant
- NIH, Distinguished Scholar Program (DSP)
- NIH, Workforce Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowship
- The Ursula Laurus Citation College of New Rochelle
- Rockefeller University Heilbrunn Nurse Scholar Award
- Penn Nursing Lillian Sholtis Brunner Alumni Award for Innovation
- Penn Nursing Teresa I. Lynch Award for consistent contribution to the advancement of the School of Nursing
- University of Pennsylvania William T.V. Fontaine Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities in PhD
- Pace University Dean’s Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Contribution
- Pace University Academic Achievement and Professional Potential Award
- Johnson & Johnson, AACN Minority Scholars Fellowship