Skip to Main Content
DownloadHi-Res Photo

Nicola Hawley, PhD

Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases); Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Contact Information

Nicola Hawley, PhD

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Chronic Disease Epidemiology

    60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034

    New Haven, CT 06520-8034

    United States

Samoan Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group
Download CV

Related Links

Research Summary

My research focuses on the impact of obesity on maternal and early childhood health. I work primarily with Pacific Islander populations – in the Pacific Islands and in Pacific communities in the US - who are consistently identified as the population most at risk of adverse, obesity-related health outcomes globally. Methodologically, I employ a life-course approach that utilizes cross-sectional, prospective cohort, and randomized controlled trial designs to address questions of causality and identify critical periods of susceptibility/ideal moments for intervention. I use mixed-methods approaches - combining quantitative and qualitative data - and strongly advocate for community-engaged approaches to research, intervention, and development of health policy.

I have ongoing projects and collaborations in American Samoa, Samoa, South Africa, Uganda, the US and several other global settings.

Specialized Terms: global non-communicable disease, obesity, diabetes, maternal and child health, pregnancy health, infant feeding, prenatal care

Coauthors

Research Interests

Diabetes Mellitus; Hypertension; Maternal Health Services; Maternal-Child Health Centers; Obesity; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Global Health; Samoa; American Samoa

Public Health Interests

Community Health; Genetics, Genomics, Epigenetics; Global Health; Maternal & Child Health; Nutrition; Obesity; Reproduction; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice

Research Images

Ola Tuputupua'e: The "Growing Up" Samoa Study

Selected Publications

  • Obesity and diabetes in Pacific Islanders: the current burden and the need for urgent action.Hawley NL, McGarvey ST. Obesity and diabetes in Pacific Islanders: the current burden and the need for urgent action. Current Diabetes Reports 2015, 15: 29. PMID: 25809458, DOI: 10.1007/s11892-015-0594-5.
  • A thrifty variant in CREBRF strongly influences body mass index in Samoans.Minster RL, Hawley NL, Su CT, Sun G, Kershaw EE, Cheng H, Buhule OD, Lin J, Reupena MS, Viali S, Tuitele J, Naseri T, Urban Z, Deka R, Weeks DE, McGarvey ST. A thrifty variant in CREBRF strongly influences body mass index in Samoans. Nature Genetics 2016, 48: 1049-1054. PMID: 27455349, PMCID: PMC5069069, DOI: 10.1038/ng.3620.
  • Diabetes Prevention and Care Programs in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands: Challenges, Innovation, and Recommendations for Effective Scale-Up.Hawley NL, Suss R, Cash HL, Aitaoto N, Samoa R, Ayers B, McElfish P. Diabetes Prevention and Care Programs in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands: Challenges, Innovation, and Recommendations for Effective Scale-Up. Current Diabetes Reports 2019, 19: 24. PMID: 30919169, DOI: 10.1007/s11892-019-1139-0.
  • Piloting a food photo sorting activity in Samoa to assess maternal beliefs and their role in child diet.Tanawattanacharoen VK, Choy CC, Anesi TJ, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Reupena MS, Hawley NL. Piloting a food photo sorting activity in Samoa to assess maternal beliefs and their role in child diet. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2020, 16: e12974. PMID: 32056393, PMCID: PMC7296816, DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12974.
  • Conceptions of pregnancy health and motivations for healthful behavior change among women in American Samoa.Kocher EL, Sternberg Lamb JM, McGarvey ST, Faiai M, Muasau-Howard BT, Hawley NL. Conceptions of pregnancy health and motivations for healthful behavior change among women in American Samoa. Women And Birth : Journal Of The Australian College Of Midwives 2018, 31: e32-e41. PMID: 28662836, DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.06.011.
  • Genome-wide association studies in Samoans give insight into the genetic architecture of fasting serum lipid levels.Carlson JC, Weeks DE, Hawley NL, Sun G, Cheng H, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Tuitele J, Deka R, McGarvey ST, Minster RL. Genome-wide association studies in Samoans give insight into the genetic architecture of fasting serum lipid levels. Journal Of Human Genetics 2021, 66: 111-121. PMID: 32759990, PMCID: PMC7785639, DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-0816-9.
  • Estimated Dietary Bisphenol-A Exposure and Adiposity in Samoan Mothers and Children.Heinsberg LW, Bui CNN, Hartle JC, Sereika SM, Choy CC, Wang D, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Park JJ, Hawley NL, Deziel NC. Estimated Dietary Bisphenol-A Exposure and Adiposity in Samoan Mothers and Children. Toxics 2020, 8 PMID: 32887300, PMCID: PMC7560430, DOI: 10.3390/toxics8030067.
  • Effect of maternal nutrient intake during 31-37 weeks gestation on offspring body composition in Samoa.Arslanian KJ, Fidow UT, Atanoa T, Naseri T, Duckham RL, McGarvey ST, Choy C, Hawley NL. Effect of maternal nutrient intake during 31-37 weeks gestation on offspring body composition in Samoa. Annals Of Human Biology 2020, 47: 587-596. PMID: 32892647, PMCID: PMC7900936, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1820078.
  • Longitudinal Assessment of Childhood Dietary Patterns: Associations with Body Mass Index z-Score among Children in the Samoan Ola Tuputupua'e (Growing Up) Cohort.Choy CC, Wang D, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Baylin A, Hawley NL. Longitudinal Assessment of Childhood Dietary Patterns: Associations with Body Mass Index z-Score among Children in the Samoan Ola Tuputupua'e (Growing Up) Cohort. Childhood Obesity (Print) 2020, 16: 534-543. PMID: 32907355, PMCID: PMC7575349, DOI: 10.1089/chi.2020.0058.
  • Assessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010-2019.Rivara AC, Pomer A, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Viali S, Choy CC, McGarvey ST, Hawley NL. Assessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010-2019. Annals Of Human Biology 2020, 47: 597-601. PMID: 32924611, PMCID: PMC8180238, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1822914.
  • Remote Screening for Optic Nerve Cupping Using Smartphone-based Nonmydriatic Fundus Photography.LaMonica LC, Bhardwaj MK, Hawley NL, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Cooper ML, Cotran PR, Roh S, Ramsey DJ. Remote Screening for Optic Nerve Cupping Using Smartphone-based Nonmydriatic Fundus Photography. Journal Of Glaucoma 2021, 30: 58-60. PMID: 32969917, PMCID: PMC7755732, DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001680.
  • A missense variant in CREBRF, rs373863828, is associated with fat-free mass, not fat mass in Samoan infants.Arslanian KJ, Fidow UT, Atanoa T, Unasa-Apelu F, Naseri T, Wetzel AI, Pomer A, Duckham RL, McGarvey ST, Strayer JA, Kershaw EE, Weeks DE, Hawley NL. A missense variant in CREBRF, rs373863828, is associated with fat-free mass, not fat mass in Samoan infants. International Journal Of Obesity (2005) 2021, 45: 45-55. PMID: 32884101, DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-00659-4.
  • C-reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates.Rivara AC, Corley M, Choy CC, Duckham RL, Pomer A, Reupena MS, Viali S, Naseri T, Kershaw EE, Crouter SE, McGarvey ST, Bribiescas RG, Valeggia C, Hawley NL. C-reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates. American Journal Of Human Biology : The Official Journal Of The Human Biology Council 2022, 34: e23646. PMID: 34260111, PMCID: PMC8758804, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23646.
  • Improving services for chronic non-communicable diseases in Samoa: an implementation research study using the care cascade framework.Fraser-Hurt N, Naseri LT, Thomsen R, Matalavea A, Ieremia-Faasili V, Reupena MS, Hawley NL, Pomer A, Rivara AC, Obure DC, Zhang S. Improving services for chronic non-communicable diseases in Samoa: an implementation research study using the care cascade framework. Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Public Health 2022, 46: 36-45. PMID: 34309937, DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13113.
  • Body size and composition of Samoan toddlers aged 18-25 months in 2019.Oyama S, Duckham RL, Arslanian KJ, Kershaw EE, Strayer JA, Fidow UT, Naseri T, Hawley NL. Body size and composition of Samoan toddlers aged 18-25 months in 2019. Annals Of Human Biology 2021, 48: 346-349. PMID: 34340601, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1951351.
  • Comparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua'e Data.Warmath CR, Choy CC, Frame EA, Sherar LB, Duckham RL, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Hawley NL. Comparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua'e Data. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2021, 18 PMID: 34444185, PMCID: PMC8391931, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168438.
  • Social Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda.Tusubira AK, Nalwadda CK, Akiteng AR, Hsieh E, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Katahoire A, Hawley NL, Kalyesubula R, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI, Armstrong-Hough M. Social Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda. Annals Of Global Health 2021, 87: 86. PMID: 34458110, PMCID: PMC8378074, DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3308.
  • Anticipating the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on newborns and infants: A call for research and preventive policy.McDonald AJ, Mew EJ, Hawley NL, Lowe SR. Anticipating the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on newborns and infants: A call for research and preventive policy. Journal Of Affective Disorders Reports 2021, 6: 100213. PMID: 34514459, PMCID: PMC8417611, DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100213.
  • A murine model of the human CREBRFR457Q obesity-risk variant does not influence energy or glucose homeostasis in response to nutritional stress.Kanshana JS, Mattila PE, Ewing MC, Wood AN, Schoiswohl G, Meyer AC, Kowalski A, Rosenthal SL, Gingras S, Kaufman BA, Lu R, Weeks DE, McGarvey ST, Minster RL, Hawley NL, Kershaw EE. A murine model of the human CREBRFR457Q obesity-risk variant does not influence energy or glucose homeostasis in response to nutritional stress. PloS One 2021, 16: e0251895. PMID: 34520472, PMCID: PMC8439463, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251895.
  • Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study.Wu B, Choy CC, Rivara AC, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study. Public Health Nutrition 2021, 24: 5995-6006. PMID: 34521497, PMCID: PMC8608721, DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021003980.
  • Factorial validation analysis of the Baby and Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaires in Samoa.Oyama S, Arslanian KJ, Fidow UT, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Hawley NL. Factorial validation analysis of the Baby and Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaires in Samoa. Eating Behaviors 2021, 42: 101530. PMID: 34051664, PMCID: PMC8380697, DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101530.
  • Preterm birth among Pacific Islander women and related perinatal outcomes: a scoping review protocol.Wu B, Arslanian KJ, Nyhan K, Taylor S, Shabanova V, Muasau-Howard B, Hawley NL. Preterm birth among Pacific Islander women and related perinatal outcomes: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2021, 11: e050483. PMID: 34728448, PMCID: PMC8565552, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050483.
  • Feasibility of using infrared thermal imaging to examine brown adipose tissue in infants aged 18 to 25 months.Oyama S, Arslanian KJ, Levy SB, Ocobock CJ, Fidow UT, Naseri T, Hawley NL. Feasibility of using infrared thermal imaging to examine brown adipose tissue in infants aged 18 to 25 months. Annals Of Human Biology 2021, 48: 374-381. PMID: 34781801, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1985607.
  • Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among male sex workers in Mexico: an application of the RE-AIM framework.Kadiamada-Ibarra H, Hawley NL, Sosa-Rubí SG, Wilson-Barthes M, Franco RR, Galárraga O. Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among male sex workers in Mexico: an application of the RE-AIM framework. BMC Public Health 2021, 21: 2174. PMID: 34837988, PMCID: PMC8626882, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12167-9.
  • Randomized controlled trial to enhance children's sleep, eating, and weight.Hart CN, Hawley NL, Coffman DL, Raynor HA, Carskadon MA, Jelalian E, Owens JA, Spaeth A, Wing RR. Randomized controlled trial to enhance children's sleep, eating, and weight. Pediatric Research 2021 PMID: 34930967, DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01870-3.
  • Cascades of diabetes and hypertension care in Samoa: Identifying gaps in the diagnosis, treatment, and control continuum - a cross-sectional study.LaMonica LC, McGarvey ST, Rivara AC, Sweetman CA, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Kadiamada H, Kocher E, Rojas-Carroll A, DeLany JP, Hawley NL. Cascades of diabetes and hypertension care in Samoa: Identifying gaps in the diagnosis, treatment, and control continuum - a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific 2022, 18: 100313. PMID: 35024652, PMCID: PMC8669362, DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100313.
  • Pregnancy health and perinatal outcomes among Pacific Islander women in the United States and US Affiliated Pacific Islands: Protocol for a scoping review.Suss R, Mahoney M, Arslanian KJ, Nyhan K, Hawley NL. Pregnancy health and perinatal outcomes among Pacific Islander women in the United States and US Affiliated Pacific Islands: Protocol for a scoping review. PloS One 2022, 17: e0262010. PMID: 35041684, PMCID: PMC8765672, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262010.
  • Publisher Correction To: Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among male sex workers in Mexico: an application of the RE-AIM framework.Kadiamada-Ibarra H, Hawley NL, Sosa-Rubí SG, Wilson-Barthes M, Franco RR, Galárraga O. Publisher Correction To: Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among male sex workers in Mexico: an application of the RE-AIM framework. BMC Public Health 2022, 22: 184. PMID: 35086514, PMCID: PMC8793163, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12415-y.
  • CREBRF missense variant rs373863828 has both direct and indirect effects on type 2 diabetes and fasting glucose in Polynesian peoples living in Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand.Russell EM, Carlson JC, Krishnan M, Hawley NL, Sun G, Cheng H, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Viali S, Tuitele J, Major TJ, Miljkovic I, Merriman TR, Deka R, Weeks DE, McGarvey ST, Minster RL. CREBRF missense variant rs373863828 has both direct and indirect effects on type 2 diabetes and fasting glucose in Polynesian peoples living in Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care 2022, 10 PMID: 35144939, PMCID: PMC8845200, DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002275.
  • Is overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua'e "Growing Up" study.Choy CC, Howe CJ, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Is overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua'e "Growing Up" study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2022, 16: 144-150. PMID: 35256305, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.02.008.
  • Mendelian randomization supports bidirectional causality between telomere length and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential.Nakao T, Bick AG, Taub MA, Zekavat SM, Uddin MM, Niroula A, Carty CL, Lane J, Honigberg MC, Weinstock JS, Pampana A, Gibson CJ, Griffin GK, Clarke SL, Bhattacharya R, Assimes TL, Emery LS, Stilp AM, Wong Q, Broome J, Laurie CA, Khan AT, Smith AV, Blackwell TW, Codd V, Nelson CP, Yoneda ZT, Peralta JM, Bowden DW, Irvin MR, Boorgula M, Zhao W, Yanek LR, Wiggins KL, Hixson JE, Gu CC, Peloso GM, Roden DM, Reupena MS, Hwu CM, DeMeo DL, North KE, Kelly S, Musani SK, Bis JC, Lloyd-Jones DM, Johnsen JM, Preuss M, Tracy RP, Peyser PA, Qiao D, Desai P, Curran JE, Freedman BI, Tiwari HK, Chavan S, Smith JA, Smith NL, Kelly TN, Hidalgo B, Cupples LA, Weeks DE, Hawley NL, Minster RL, Deka R, Naseri TT, de Las Fuentes L, Raffield LM, Morrison AC, Vries PS, Ballantyne CM, Kenny EE, Rich SS, Whitsel EA, Cho MH, Shoemaker MB, Pace BS, Blangero J, Palmer ND, Mitchell BD, Shuldiner AR, Barnes KC, Redline S, Kardia SLR, Abecasis GR, Becker LC, Heckbert SR, He J, Post W, Arnett DK, Vasan RS, Darbar D, Weiss ST, McGarvey ST, de Andrade M, Chen YI, Kaplan RC, Meyers DA, Custer BS, Correa A, Psaty BM, Fornage M, Manson JE, Boerwinkle E, Konkle BA, Loos RJF, Rotter JI, Silverman EK, Kooperberg C, Danesh J, Samani NJ, Jaiswal S, Libby P, Ellinor PT, Pankratz N, Ebert BL, Reiner AP, Mathias RA, Do R, Natarajan P. Mendelian randomization supports bidirectional causality between telomere length and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. Science Advances 2022, 8: eabl6579. PMID: 35385311, PMCID: PMC8986098, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl6579.
  • A loss-of-function IFNAR1 allele in Polynesia underlies severe viral diseases in homozygotes.Bastard P, Hsiao KC, Zhang Q, Choin J, Best E, Chen J, Gervais A, Bizien L, Materna M, Harmant C, Roux M, Hawley NL, Weeks DE, McGarvey ST, Sandoval K, Barberena-Jonas C, Quinto-Cortés CD, Hagelberg E, Mentzer AJ, Robson K, Coulibaly B, Seeleuthner Y, Bigio B, Li Z, Uzé G, Pellegrini S, Lorenzo L, Sbihi Z, Latour S, Besnard M, Adam de Beaumais T, Jacqz Aigrain E, Béziat V, Deka R, Esera Tulifau L, Viali S, Reupena MS, Naseri T, McNaughton P, Sarkozy V, Peake J, Blincoe A, Primhak S, Stables S, Gibson K, Woon ST, Drake KM, Hill AVS, Chan CY, King R, Ameratunga R, Teiti I, Aubry M, Cao-Lormeau VM, Tangye SG, Zhang SY, Jouanguy E, Gray P, Abel L, Moreno-Estrada A, Minster RL, Quintana-Murci L, Wood AC, Casanova JL. A loss-of-function IFNAR1 allele in Polynesia underlies severe viral diseases in homozygotes. The Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2022, 219 PMID: 35442418, PMCID: PMC9026234, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20220028.
Edit Profile