Faculty
Stephen McGarvey
Professor:
Community Health
Phone: +1 401 863 1354
Stephen_McGarvey@Brown.EDU
Dr. McGarvey is concerned with issues of human population biology and international health, specifically modernization-related induced socio-economic and behavioral changes, gene by environment interactions on cardiovascular disease risk factors, tropical parasitology and child nutritional status and health, and environmental issues. His research involves developing-world countries such as Samoa, the Philippines, South Africa and Ghana.
Biography
Stephen McGarvey is the Director of the International Health Institute and Professor of Community Health and Anthropology. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Co-Editor of Annals of Human Biology. McGarvey earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Pennsylvania State University in 1980, and an M.P.H. in Epidemiology from Yale University. McGarvey is concerned with issues of human population biology and international health, specifically modernization-related induced socio-economic and behavioral changes, genetic and environmental influences on obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factor, tropical parasitology and child nutritional status and health, and environmental issues. His research involves developing-world countries such as Samoa, the Philippines, and Ghana.
Interests
CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Dr. McGarvey is working on two large projects. The first is a long-term series of NIH supported studies examining the genetic, physiologic, and behavioral influences on cardiovascular disease risk factors in Samoa and American Samoa, and newer research in applied interventions on non-communicable diseases. One recent project is a R18 translational research grant project on the impact of community health workers on the management of type 2 diabetes in American Samoa in collaboration with a primary care health facility. The newest project is a genome-wide association study of adiposity and metabolic phenotypes in Samoa. This will study will also attempt to detect specific interactions between genetic variants and individual level dietary and physical activity factors on adiposity and metabolic phenotypes. Based on prior studies in 2002-03 analysis and manuscript preparation continues on determining genetic susceptibilities and gene* environment interactions that determine obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The second project is on the parasitic infection Schistosoma japonicum in The Philippines. His current research focuses on two studies in The Philippines. The first is a multidisciplinary study of the ecology and transmission of schistosomiasis and how its distribution in space, time, and people is influenced by the anthropogenic changes to the environment due to rice farming. The second project focuses on the interactive influences of puberty, malnutrition, and specific immune responses on the development of partial resistance to infection.
Degrees
PHD, MPH
Awards
2007, Elected Fellow, American Association of Advancement of Science
1980-81, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biomedical Anthropology, National Institute of Mental Health, University of Hawaii
1971-77, Predoctoral Traineeship in Human Biological Adaptability, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University
1970-71, Presidential Scholarship, Villanova University
Institution
Bu
Affiliations
Co-Editor, Annals of Human Biology
Member of Editorial Boards:
American Journal of Human Biology, and Anthropological Science
Professional Memberships:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Physical Anthropologists
Human Biology Association
American Society for Clinical Nutrition
American Public Health Association
American Society of Tropical Medicine
Hygiene Fellow of North American Association for the Study of Obesity
Teaching
global health
field research methods in developing nations
human population biology
Funded Research
Active
2006-2010 Diabetes Care in American Samoa. PI: ST McGarvey. NIH Grant R18-DK075371. Total Costs $ 2,432,866.
2007-2009 Alcohol Phenotype Development in Samoans. Co-investigator with PI: Robert Swift. NIH Grant R21 AA016597. Total Costs $426,718.
2008-2011 Global Health Framework at Brown University. Co-PI with S. Cu-Uvin. NIH Grant R25TW008102, Total Costs: $406,806.
2009-2014 Genome-Wide Association Studies of Adiposity in Samoans. PI: ST McGarvey, NIH Grant R01 HL093093. Total Costs $5,229,699.
Completed
2000-2006 Genome-scan for Obesity Susceptibility Loci in Samoans.
PI: ST McGarvey. NIH: R01-DK59642.
2004-2005 Puberty, Immunity and Malnutrition in S. japonicum. Coinvestigator with PI: JD Kurtis. NIH: R01-AI48123. (ST McGarvey was PI 7/1/2001-3/25/2004).
2005-2007 Inflammation, Iron and Cognition in S. japonicum. Coinvestigator with PI: Jennifer Friedman. NIH Grant R03 AI064735.
2003-2006 Urbanization, Health and the Environment in Coastal Ghana. Coinvestigator with PI, M White. NIH R21-TW006508.
2000-2006 Ecology and Transmission of S. japonicum in The Philippines. PI: ST McGarvey. NIH Grant TW01582 in the NIH/NSF Ecology of Infectious Diseases Program.
2001-2004 Puberty, Immunity and Malnutrition in S. japonicum. PI: ST McGarvey.NIH: R01-AI48123.
1998- 2002 Genome Scan for NIDDM Susceptibility Genes among Samoans. NIH DK55406. Co-PI with R Deka.
1994-2000 International Training in AIDS Epidemiology. NIH D43 TW00237. Co-Director with KM Mayer, Director. Dr. McGarvey's role ended 9/00.
1995-1999 Genetics of CVD Risk in Samoans. NIH HL52611. Co-PI with MI Kamboh.
1993-96 Phase II Study on Multi Drug Chemotherapy of Geohelminths in the Philippines and the People's Republic of China. WHO. G.R. Olds, PI.
1992-97 Infants of Gestational Diabetes: Birth to seven years. NIH HD11343. Co-Investigator with B. Vohr, PI. Project 2 in Center Project, Diabetes Pregnancy, Effects on offspring. Overall PI, W. Oh.
1991-1996 Morbidity and resistance to reinfection in Schistosomiasis japonicum and development of a strategic plan for disease control. NIH AI30601. Co-PI with R. Olveda. Project 1 in Tropical Medicine Research Center.
1990-96 Adiposity, Insulin, Electrolytes and Samoan Blood Pressure. NIH AG09375. Principal Investigator: S.T. McGarvey.
1995 Health Transition in Navrongo, Ghana. Faculty Foreign Travel Grant, Brown University, Watson Institute for International Studies.
1993-94 Poly Parasitism and Cognitive Function in Chinese Children. Partnership for Child Development, London. PI: S.T. McGarvey.
1993-94 Fertility Patterns in Western Samoa. Brown University Population Studies and Training Center. PI: S.T. McGarvey.
1993-94 Immunogenetic Analysis of Clot Blood from a Schistosomiasis Endemic Chinese Population. The Miriam Hospital Foundation. PI: S.T. McGarvey, with P.M. Wiest, and G.R. Olds.
1992 Lipid profiles, adiposity and psychosocial factors among modernizing Samoans. Miriam Hospital Foundation. PI: S.T. McGarvey.
1989 Schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province, China. Faculty Foreign Travel Grant, Brown University Institute for International Studies.
1988-89 Enhancing Hospital Care for the Older Patient. Co Investigator with M.D. Fretwell, PI. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
1988 Salt Taste, Infant Diet and Blood Pressure. S.T. McGarvey and S.H. Zinner. Gerber Products Co.
1986-87 Family Care Givers of Frail Elders. Co Investigator with R.A. Silliman. Brown University Program in Medicine Research Support Funds.
1982-83 Epidemiology of Blood Pressure in Samoans. PI: S.T. McGarvey. Wenner Gren Foundation.
Curriculum Vitae
Read Stephen McGarvey's full Faculty Profile.