As the burden of chronic diseases continues to rise in the United States, a new publication authored by Barry University faculty member Dr. Zacharias Papadakis brings timely attention to a pressing issue: the potential consequences of defunding precision lifestyle medicine research.

Published in the American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology, the article—“NIH Cuts: A Costly Retreat—Defunding Precision Lifestyle Medicine Amid the Cardiovascular‑Kidney‑Metabolic Crisis”—raises awareness about the impact of recent and proposed federal research funding reductions. The author emphasizes that these cuts risk stalling progress in lifestyle-based, individualized approaches to preventing and managing cardiometabolic diseases, including heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Unlike generalized treatment protocols, precision lifestyle medicine seeks to tailor interventions such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management to individual patient profiles based on genetics, environment, and behavior. This approach has shown significant promise in not only managing, but preventing disease, particularly in high-risk populations.

The publication emphasizes that major advances in wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and integrative physiology now make personalized lifestyle interventions more scalable and effective than ever before. However, these advances require sustained research investment to realize their full potential in clinical settings.

Barry University is proud to support faculty like Dr. Papadakis who are advancing scholarship in areas that make a meaningful impact on public health. His work underscores Barry’s ongoing commitment to science-driven innovation, wellness, and community-focused solutions.

Read the full article in American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology here.