FACULTY, GEORGIA PREVENTION INSTITUTE
Professor of Medicine, Physiology & Graduate Studies, Augusta University
Adjunct Professor of Psychology & Kinesiology, University of Georgia
Dr. Davis is a clinical health psychologist whose research focuses on health promotion and disease prevention in children, with regard to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular risk, cognition and academic achievement, using randomized controlled trials.
Education & Training
Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Miami, Coral Gables, 1999
Behavioral Medicine and Advanced Statistics
PhD
University of Miami, Coral Gables, 1997
Clinical Health Psychology
Residency
Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, 1997
Clinical Psychology
MS
University of Miami, Coral Gables, 1995
Clinical Health Psychology
Maytag Fellowship, 1992-1995
AB
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 1990
Psychology, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Research Highlights
Dr. Davis has designed and conducted randomized clinical trials to spur evidence-based public health recommendations and scalable programs to reduce risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Dr. Davis conducted the first randomized clinical trial of a park-based physical activity intervention led by peer specialists for peers with serious mental illness (SMI) in a Southeastern, predominantly Black, low-income sample (Vanderbilt Diabetes and Research Training Center Pilot & Feasibility Award, 5P30DK020593).
Adults with SMI die decades early, mostly from heart disease. Few park-based PA interventions have been tested, none focused on SMI. Peers are people with SMI in recovery. Certified peer specialists (CPS) are peers working in mental health who lead the Peers Experiencing Enhanced Recovery Support (PEERS) outpatient program weekdays at Serenity Behavioral Health. The PEERS program includes wellness goals. The PARCS Pilot Study (NCT05293587) tested a 6-week PA intervention (CPS-led park-based PA) vs. waitlist control, as part of the PEERS program. The PARCS intervention was billable and transportation was provided within existing mental health services. Peers attended and enjoyed the intervention, and showed some preliminary health improvements. This park-based CPS-led PA program for peers seems feasible within existing mental health services, acceptable, and might be effective in reducing risk for chronic illness in this vulnerable group. Further work (R34 MH126043, PI: Besenyi) is in progress to optimize feasibility and scalability to existing mental health services and assess health outcomes.
Glycemic Excursion Minimization (GEM) to outshine health disparities.
The Glucose Excursion Minimization (GEM) intervention (systematic glucose feedback on reducing carbohydrate intake and increased physical activity) is a paradigm shift in treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), addressing immediate glycemic excursions (high blood glucose after meals) directly rather than weight loss, which can be challenging and discouraging. GEM improves glycemic control in T2D, but evidence is limited to older, mostly White adults. The study will adapt and pilot the GEM intervention among young Black adults who bear a heavy burden of T2D.
Randomized Clinical Disease Prevention Trials in Children
As contact Principal Investigator, Dr. Davis has conducted 2 major randomized clinical trials of behavioral interventions in children at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease due to their overweight or obese status. The first of these, published in JAMA in 2012, was a rigorous study comparing 3 months of a no-intervention control condition to a low- (20 min/day) vs high-volume (40 min/day) dose of monitored aerobic exercise. Either exercise dose yielded similar benefits on insulin resistance and aerobic fitness, while the high-volume dose elicited greater reductions in body fat and visceral fat. The study adhered strictly to CONSORT guidelines, included detailed adherence measures (daily heart rates in the exercise groups), and provided needed, rare, causal dose-response data on children’s responses to a given dose of exercise. This study was influential for the Georgia program, “Power Up for 30” to encourage elementary schools to add 30 minutes of physical activity to the school day (enough to expend a similar amount of energy as 20 min supervised exercise). A second trial was initially focused on cognitive and brain outcomes, with a competitive supplement to add arterial stiffness and other cardiometabolic outcomes (this paper is currently being revised for resubmission), and a diversity supplement to support Dr. Norman Pollock in examining osteocalcin as a potential bone-derived influence on cardiometabolic risk in the children, given his interest in bone biology and metabolism. Dr. Davis designed both these trials, assembled the scientific teams, oversaw human subjects protections, recruitment, testing, and intervention, supervised statistical analyses of the data, and handled all administrative duties (e.g., budget, NIH reporting).
Randomized Clinical Exercise-Cognition Trials in Children
While there is a common belief that exercise confers brain, cognitive, and academic achievement benefits to children, the evidence – principally, cross-sectional comparisons of highly fit vs less-fit children -- is not nearly as strong as the claims made about it. As contact Principal Investigator, Dr. Davis conducted arguably the two most rigorous randomized controlled trials of exercise treatment on cognition in children. The first of these was ancillary to the dose-response trial mentioned below, and yielded strong, causal dose-response evidence that a greater volume of aerobic training resulted in greater benefits on cognition and math achievement. The second (with neuroscientist and MPI Dr. McDowell) provided clear evidence of benefit from exercise per se, apart from other program elements such as adult attention, on children’s brain structure (white matter integrity, e.g., myelination). This moved the science forward significantly by implementing an active, attention-control comparison condition rather than a no-intervention control, and utilizing highly sophisticated measures of brain health. Dr. Davis designed both these trials, assembled the scientific teams, directed recruitment, testing, intervention, statistical analyses, manuscripts, and handled administrative duties (e.g., budget, NIH reporting).
Insulin Resistance
Dr. Davis published a study focused on insulin resistance measured using the gold standard euglycemic clamp method in women with a history of gestational diabetes, showing it to be the key element of metabolic syndrome conferring coronary risk in these women. She assisted with data collection and conducted all analyses from which she wrote a highly cited paper. In this paper Dr. Davis developed the insulin sensitivity index, conducted the statistical analyses and presented a validation of a simpler measure of insulin resistance (ISI(0,120)) using oral glucose tolerance test data in adults with and without type 2 diabetes. This method was demonstrated to be the best predictor of diabetes incidence over 5-8 years in combined longitudinal data from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, the Mexico City Diabetes Study, and the San Antonio Heart Study (Hanley et al. Diabetes. 2003 Feb;52(2):463-9).
Projects
2022-25 Principal Investigator of subaward (15%), 1 R34 MH126043-01A1, Physical Activity to Reduce Cardiometabolic Risk in Serious Mental Illness: PARCS Study. NIMH PAR-21-131, Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34 Clinical Trial Required). 03/23/2022 - 02/28/2025, subaward direct costs $62,000/year, total costs $286,440. PI: Besenyi, Kansas State U. NCT05457179
2022-23 Principal Investigator, “Glycemic Excursion Minimization (GEM) to outshine health disparities.” Augusta University Intramural Grants Program, $25,000 total costs. The innovative Glucose Excursion Minimization (GEM) intervention (systematic glucose feedback on reducing carbohydrate intake and increased physical activity) improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but evidence is limited to older, mostly White adults. The study will pilot the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of the GEM intervention among young adults (mostly minority) with poorly controlled T2D (A1c≥7%, not on insulin or secretagogues), and adapt the intervention to digital methods.
2020-22 Principal Investigator (8%), Physical Activity to Reduce Diabetes Risk in Serious Mental Illness: PARCS Study. DK020593, Vanderbilt Diabetes and Research Training Center Pilot & Feasibility Award (5P30DK020593-43, VUMC86160). August 2020-August 2022, direct costs per year $50,000, total costs per year $63,000. Subaward PI: Besenyi, Kansas State U. NCT05293587
2019-23 Co-investigator (8%), NIH R01 HL143440-01A1, “Pediatric Ambulatory Blood Pressure Trajectory and Brain Health in Midlife.” PI: Shaoyong Su, MPI: Jennifer McDowell. 6/1/2019-4/30/2023, Year 1 direct costs $570,004, year 1 total costs $738,165, total costs all years $2,845,194. To examine whether BP, arterial stiffness, stress and poor health behaviors in early life are associated with altered brain structure (e.g., reduced white matter integrity) and impaired cognitive function in midlife.
2021 Co-Investigator, "Addition of resting state fMRI data collection to the existing Pediatric Ambulatory Blood Pressure Trajectory and Brain Health in Midlife Project", PI Shaoyong Su. Pilot grant to support MRI scan time for resting state study.
2021-22 Co-Investigator, "High sodium intake, gut microbiome and brain aging", PI Haidong Zhu. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary sodium on gut microbiome balance and brain aging. Pilot grant to support MRI scan time for ancillary study.
Strong & Ready: Harnessing Quality Rated to Improve Child Health and School Readiness
Augusta University Institute of Public and Preventive Health, Healthy Augusta Community
Academic Partnership grant (Davis & Web, Co-PI)
August 2014 through July 2015
Role: Principal Investigator
This study, in partnership with Georgia Bright from the Start (Dept. of Early Care
and Learning) and other community partners, examines measures of early childhood education
quality to identify those aspects that are most influential to child health and school
readiness. This will help focus quality improvement efforts to improve outcomes in
Georgia children.
Play Rx Pilot Study
Augusta University Research Institute, Extramural Success Award
March 2015 through February 2016
Role: Principal Investigator
Pilot study of exercise vs waitlist control condition on symptoms and cognition in
children with ADHD.
Identification of Common Genes Related to Depression and Inflammation.
American Heart Association (National) Scientist Development Grant.
July 2009 through June 2013
Role: Principal Investigator
Exercise and overweight children's cognition.
NIH-NHLBI R01 HL 87923-02S1
June 2010 through July 2013
Role: Principal Investigator
This competitive revision adds measures of arterial stiffness and nonalcoholic fatty
liver disease to the ongoing clinical trial of exercise.
Exercise and overweight children's cognition.
NIH-NHLBI R01 HL 87923-03S1
September 2010 through July 2013
Role: Principal Investigator
This Investigator Research Supplement adds Dr. Norman Pollock's work on osteocalcin
to the study of arterial stiffness and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the ongoing
clinical trial of exercise.
Exercise and overweight children's cognition.
NIH-NHLBI R01 HL 87923-04 (Davis, McDowell, Tomporowski, Multi-PI)
September 2008 through July 2013
Role: Co-Investigator
The study is a clinical trial of an after school exercise program vs. attention control
(non-exercise after school program) to determine effects on cognition and brain function
in overweight 8-11 yr olds.
Epigenetic basis of obesity induced cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
NIH-NHLBI R01 HL105689 (Wang, PI)
January 2011 through December 2015
Role: Co-Investigator
This study assesses the role of DNA methylation in obesity-related disease, and the
effects of exercise on methylation status.
Efficacy of exercise as a tool in the maintenance and treatment of disruptive behavior disorders: A feasibility study.
NIH-NIMH R36 MH093152-01A1 Bustamante (PI) 8/2011-7/31/13
Role: Consultant
University of Illinois at Chicago, mentor David X. Marquez.
Dissertation Research Grant to Increase Diversity
Executive function in children with attention deficit disorder.
MCG Child Health Discovery Institute Advanced Pilot Award (Davis & Maria, Multi-PIs)
July 2010 through June 2013
Role: Co-Investigator
NCE Examines executive function and brain activation and relates it to physical activity,
fitness, and fatness.
“Exercise and overweight children's cognition”
NIH-NHLBI 3R01HL087923-03S2 (Davis, McDowell, & Tomporowski, Multi-PI)
September 2010 through August 2012
Role: Co-Investigator
This ARRA OppNet grant added measures of brain myelination, connectivity, and structure
to a behavioral clinical trial of aerobic exercise to determine effects of aerobic
exercise.
“A model exercise intervention for overweight children”
University System of Georgia (Tomporowski, PI)
July 2010 through June 2012
USG Childhood Obesity Research Competition
Role: Co-Investigator
This is preparatory translational work.
“MCG-VAMC Consortium Psychology Workforce Development”
HRSA Graduate Psychology Edu Programs D40HP00012 (Mabe, PI)
August 2010 through July 2013
Role: Research Mentor 2011-12
Supports Psychology residency program.
“Exercise effects on bone-metabolic axis.”
MCG Child Health Discovery Institute Advanced Pilot Award Wenger, Misra (PIs) 7/10
� 6/30/12
Role: Co-Investigator
Exercise and osteocalcin effects on metabolism and fatty liver disease; cell, rat,
and human studies.
“Obesity Related CV Risk in Youth”
Programmatic Funding Development Award (Harshfield, PI)
April 2009 through August 2010
Medical College of Georgia, Diabetes and Obesity Discovery Institute
Subproject: Exercise effects on liver fat and arterial stiffness in overweight children.
Role: Principal Investigator of subproject
“Treatment and weight concerns in type 1 diabetes (TaWC).”
American Diabetes Association Clinical Research Award (Young-Hyman, PI)
July 2008 through June 2011
Role: Co-investigator
Tests type 1 diabetes treatment effects on risk of weight concerns/eating disorders
in adolescents.
“A Synergy Award for Team Development in Diabetes and Obesity”
GHSU Diabetes & Obesity Discovery Institute Synergy Award (Tingen, PI)
July 2011 through June 2012
Role: Co-investigator
This project aims to develop a synergistic team of scientists to identify novel prevention
strategies to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Additionally, pilot testing
of the novel strategies will occur.
Honors & Awards
2018
Fellow, Society of Behavioral Medicine
2016
Fellow, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
2010
Distinguished Faculty Award, Clinical Science Research, Medical College of Georgia,
School of Medicine Faculty Senate
2007
Fellow, NAASO/The Obesity Society
2004
Outstanding Young Clinical Faculty Award, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Faculty Senate
2002
Elected to Society for Pediatric Research
1995, 1997
Award for Academic Excellence, U. Miami Graduate School
1992 - 1995
University of Miami Maytag Fellowship
1993, 1994, 1995
Commendations, U. Miami Dept. of Psychology
1990
Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum laude, and Rufus Choate Scholar (First Honor Group), Dartmouth
College
1989
Benjamin J. Benner '69 Research Support Fellowship, Dartmouth College
Select Publications
*denotes Senior or corresponding Author
Complete list of published work:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/catherine.davis.2/bibliography/public/
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2942-8233
Besenyi, G.M., Bramwell, R.C., Heinrich, K.M., Mailey, E.L., McEvoy, J.P., Davis, C.L. A Qualitative Exploration of Park-based Physical Activity in Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Insights from peers and peer counselors. Preprint DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10697.67686. Mental Health and Physical Activity, October 2022;23:100466. Online July 19, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100466, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S175529662200028X?CMX_ID=&SIS_ID=&dgcid=STMJ_AUTH_SERV_PUBLISHED
Santiago-Rodríguez ME, Ramer JD, Marquez DX, Frazier SL, Davis CL, Bustamante EE. Device-Based Movement Behaviors, Executive Function, and Academic Skills among African American Children with ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, March 2022, 19, 4032.
Stewart JL, Hatzigeorgiou C, Davis CL, Ledford C. DPPFit: Developing and Testing a Technology-Based Translation of the DPP to Address Prediabetes in a Primary Care Setting. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, May-Jun 2022;35(3):548-558. PMID: 35641047, DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.03.210415
Ramer J, Santiago-Rodriguez ME, Davis CL, Marquez DX, Frazier SL, Bustamante EE. Exercise and Academic Performance Among Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Disruptive Behavior Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatric Exercise Science, 2020 May 25;1-10. doi: 10.1123/pes.2019-0224. PMC7686101
Davis CL*, Litwin SE, Pollock NK, Waller JL, Zhu H, Dong Y, Kapuku GK, Bhagatwala J, Harris R, Looney J, Williams CF, Armento A, Schmidt MD, Bassali R. Exercise effects on arterial stiffness and heart health in children with excess weight: The SMART RCT. International Journal of Obesity, 2020 May;44(5):1152-1163. Epub 21 Nov. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0482-1, PMID 31754238, PMC7192762. Free to view at https://rdcu.be/b1SAV. Included in “Readers' Choice: The best of International Journal of Obesity 2019,” Jan. 22, 2020, based on most cited/most shared, https://www.nature.com/collections/cheibiedea
Williams CF, Bustamante EE, Waller JL, Davis CL.* Exercise Effects on Quality of Life, Mood, and Self-Worth in Overweight Children: The SMART Randomized Controlled Trial. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2019; 9(3): 451-9. Epub 16 May 2019. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz015, PMC6520810
Hao G, Youssef N, Davis CL, Su S. The role of DNA methylation in the association between childhood adversity and cardiometabolic disease. International Journal of Cardiology, 2018 Mar 15; 255:168-174. Online first, 24 Dec. 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.12.063
Stojek MK, Montoya A, Drescher CF, Newberry A, Sultan Z, Williams CF, Pollock NK, Davis CL*. Fitness, sleep-disordered breathing, symptoms of depression and cognition in inactive overweight children: Mediation models. Public Health Reports, 2017; 132 (Suppl. 2), 65S-73S. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0033354917731308 PMC5692181
Esteban-Cornejo I, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Contreras-Rodriguez O, Verdejo-Roman J, Mora-Gonzalez J, Migueles JH, Henriksson P, Davis CL, Verdejo-Garcia A, Catena A, Ortega FB. A whole brain volumetric approach in overweight/obese children: Examining the association with different physical fitness components and academic performance. The ActiveBrains project. Neuroimage. 2017 Oct; 159:346-354. Epub Aug 5. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.011.
Arenaza L, Medrano M, Amasene M, Rodríguez-Vigil B, Díez I, Graña M, Tobalina I, Maiz E, Arteche E, Larrarte E, Huybrechts I, Davis CL, Ruiz JR, Ortega FB, Margareto J, Labayen I. Prevention of diabetes in overweight/obese children through a family based intervention program including supervised exercise (PREDIKID project): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 2017 Aug 10;18(1):372. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2117-y. PMC5551009.
McGee-Lawrence ME, Wenger KH, Misra S, Davis CL, Pollock NK, Elsalanty M, Ding K, Isales CM, Hamrick MW, Wosiski-Kuhn M, Arounlet P, Mattson MP, Cutler RG, Yu JC, Stranahan AM. Whole-body vibration mimics the metabolic effects of exercise in male leptin receptor deficient mice. Endocrinology, 2017 May 1;158(5):1160-1171. Online first, 15 March 2017. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2016-1250. PMC5460837.
Bustamante EE, Davis CL, Frazier SL, Rusch D, Fogg L, Atkins MS, Marquez DX. Randomized Controlled Trial of Exercise for ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2016 Jul;48(7):1397-407.
Davis CL*, Tingen MS, Jia J, Sherman F, Williams CF, Bhavsar K, Wood N, Kobleur J, Waller JL. Passive smoke exposure and its effects on cognition, sleep, and health outcomes in overweight and obese children. In press, Childhood Obesity, Oct. 2015. PMC – In process.
Davis CL*, Tkacz JP, Tomporowski PD, Bustamante EE. Independent associations of physical activity and weight status with children's cognitive functioning. In press, Pediatric Exercise Science, 2015; 27(4). Epub ahead of print 2015 Aug 6. NIHMS 73490
Ruble K, Davis CL, Han HR. Endothelial Health in Childhood Acute Lymphoid Leukemia Survivors: Pilot Evaluation With Peripheral Artery Tonometry. Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 2015 Mar;37(2):117-20. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000000122.
Labayen I, Ruiz JR, Ortega FB, Davis CL, Rodríguez G, González-Gross M, Breidenassel C, Dallongeville J, Marcos A, Widhalm K, Kafatos A, Molnar D, DeHenauw S, Gottrand F, Moreno LA. Liver enzymes and clustering cardiometabolic risk factors in European adolescents; The HELENA study. Pediatric Obesity, 2015 Oct;10(5):361-70. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.273. Epub ahead of print, 2014 Dec 17.
Davis CL,* Pollock NK, Waller JL, Allison JD, Dennis BA, Bassali R, Meléndez A, Boyle CA, Gower BA. Exercise dose and diabetes risk in overweight and obese children: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2012 Sep 19;308(11):1103-12. PMID: 22990269; PMCID: PMC3487697. Featured on the cover and at special session of The Obesity Society.
Pollock NK, Bernard PJ, Gutin B, Davis CL, Zhu H, Dong Y. (2011) Adolescent obesity, bone mass and cardiometabolic risk factors. Featured article, J Pediatr,158(5):727-734. Subject of editorial: Kallkwarf HJ, 158(5):698-700. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.11.052. PMC3383822
Pollock NK, Bernard PJ, Gower BA, Gundberg CM, Wenger K, Misra S, Bassali R, Davis CL.* Lower uncarboxylated osteocalcin concentrations in children with prediabetes is associated with beta-cell function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2011 July;96:E1092-E1099. PMC3135188.
Davis CL,* Tomporowski PD, McDowell JE, Austin BP, Miller PH, Yanasak NE, Allison JD, Naglieri JA. (2011). Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: A randomized controlled trial. Health Psychology, 2011 Jan;30(1):91-8. PMC3057917.
Pollock NK, Bernard PJ, Wenger K, Misra S, Gower BA, Zhu H, Allison JD, Davis CL.* (2010). Lower bone mass in prepubertal overweight children with pre-diabetes. J Bone Mineral Res, 2010:25(12):2484-2493. PMC3122138
Davis CL, Gutt M, Llabre MM, Marks JB, O'Sullivan MJ, Potter JE, Landel JL, Kumar M, Schneiderman N, Gellman M, Skyler JS. History of gestational diabetes, insulin resistance and coronary risk. J Diabetes Complications. 1999 Jul-Aug;13(4):216-23. PubMed PMID: 10616862.
Campus (HS, 1711)
1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
706-721-4534 706-721-7150
katie.davis@augusta.edu
