Lab Members

Stephanie T. Chung, M.B.B.S., is a board certified pediatric endocrinologist and internist, Lasker Tenure-Track Investigator, Co-Director of Metabolic Research Program at NIDDK and Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at George Washington University. Dr. Chung has over 12 years of experience conducting clinical studies in children and adults with diabetes and obesity. She currently leads a clinical metabolic research program that focuses on improving population-specific risk stratification and management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease with the goal of reducing health disparities especially in youth and young adults. Her passions include running as well as baking delicious treats for her family and lab.

Dr. Noemi Malandrino is a Staff Clinician in Dr. Chung’s lab. She obtained her M.D., Ph.D., and Board in Internal Medicine at the Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. She also worked as a Visiting Research Associate with Dr. Robert Smith and Dr. Hank Wu at the Hallett Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology and the VA Medical Center, Brown University, Providence, RI. In recent years, Noemi has lived in the Baltimore - Washington DC area. First, she was a post-doctoral fellow in the NIDDK intramural research program, working with Drs. Rebecca Brown and Phillip Gorden. Then, she was a resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, after which she joined the Johns Hopkins University Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism as an ABIM Research Pathway clinical research fellow. She obtained the ABIM Board Certifications in Internal Medicine in 2021 and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism in 2023. Noemi plans to develop her career as a physician-scientist providing patient care and conducting clinical experimental research. Her research interests focus on understanding the pathophysiology of diabetes and the related complications across the lifespan. In her free time, Noemi enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cooking.

Lilian Mabundo, R.N., M.S.N., is a research nurse in the Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity Branch with a master’s degree in Nursing Education. She is lead associate investigator for clinical studies with expertise in conducting metabolic phenotyping using isotope tracers. She assists with the clinical management and education of patients, study implementation and data collection and organization. Outside of lab, she loves spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, exercising, decluttering, and is an avid “foodie.”

My work investigates how manipulating dietary macronutrient composition influences energy balance and metabolic health in humans. We aim to understand the integrated physiology of these responses using a combination of whole-body and mechanistic measures. My current project is investigating how switching to a ketogenic diet impacts sleeping energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and hepatic metabolism in an inpatient feeding setting. We are also exploring the potential for Nicotinamide Riboside supplementation to augment these effects.

Shiza Salman is a second-year fellow in the Inter-Institute Endocrinology Fellowship at the NIH. She completed medical school at Dow International Medical College in Pakistan and her Internal Medicine residency at New York-Presbyterian Queens in New York. Her research interests include cardiometabolic health, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disease. Outside of work, Shiza enjoys traveling, cooking, going on walks, and spending time with family.

Mikyeong Woo is a second-year fellow in the Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-Institute Training Program at the NIH. She completed medical school in South Korea and subsequently worked as a pediatrician. She later pursued research on the genetic basis of autoinflammatory diseases in Japan. Currently, in Dr. Stephanie Chung’s group, she is investigating cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes.

Nick Foreman is a Postdoctoral Fellow in NIDDK working with Dr. Chung. His research interests focus on lifestyle interventions to improve cardiometabolic health, which he will now use to better understand mechanisms of type 2 diabetes in young adults. He has a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition from George Washington University, where he studied the acute cardiometabolic effects of high-fat overfeeding with and without exercise. He enjoys running, baking pastries, and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings.

Madilyn Gaydos is a senior post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow on Dr. Stephanie Chung’s team. She graduated with High Honors with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Science, Technology, and Society from the University of Michigan. Earlier in her fellowship, Madilyn conducted basic research at the National Cancer Institute studying T-cell therapies for solid tumors before transitioning to clinical research focused on cardiovascular risk in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. She coordinates the Young at Heart Study and supports young adults through the team’s endocrinology transition clinic, including patients from underserved populations and those facing barriers to care. Following her fellowship, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career integrating longitudinal patient care, research, and efforts to address health disparities. Outside of NIH, Madilyn enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and exploring new live music events.

Eleanor Flacke is a senior post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow on Dr. Stephanie Chung’s team. She graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from George Washington University. She works on study teams exploring human metabolism from behavioral and etiological lenses. Eleanor is also interested in how exercise and diet, through a public health lens, can be used to improve quality of life and lessen the burden of non-communicable diseases at the population level. Following her fellowship, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. exploring modulators of human metabolic dysfunction. Outside of NIH, Eleanor enjoys hiking, baking, staying active, and crocheting.

Olivia is a senior post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow on Dr. Stephanie Chung’s team. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.A. in Biological Sciences and a B.S. in Psychology. Her interest in nutrition and chronic disease grew from a desire to understand how biological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors influence health. Olivia took an interest in the role of antipsychotics and chronic disease medications and its metabolic effects in college. At NIH, Olivia contributes to clinical research examining nutrition, metabolism, and obesity, including research evaluating photograph-based dietary assessment tools. She is particularly interested in the intersection of nutrition, behavior, and chronic disease and hopes to pursue a career focused on improving patient health through nutrition and patient-centered care. Outside of NIH, Olivia enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, watching movies, and dancing.

Nathan Sala is a senior post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow on Dr. Stephanie Chung’s team. He graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Biology and the University of Oxford with an M.Sc. in Global Health and Epidemiology. He is the lead coordinator for the Dinner Time for Obesity and Prediabetes and Young at Heart Study at Children’s National Hospital. Having grown up in Guam, Nathan is passionate about understanding the burden of noncommunicable diseases in asian and pacific islander populations, with a particular interest in how disease burden differs between ethnic subgroups. He hopes to one day combine clinical practice and population health research to better the health of pacific island communities. Outside of work, Nathan loves to explore the DC and DMV food scene, bake treats, and travel.

Elise Hubert is a first-year post-baccalaureate IRTA fellow on Dr. Stephanie Chung’s team.She graduated from Wright State University with a B.S. in Population and Public Health. As an undergraduate, Elise developed an interest in addiction medicine and health disparities through volunteering with a local nonprofit organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction. This experience inspired her interest in understanding how social and structural disparities affect health outcomes and chronic disease management. During her fellowship, Elise looks forward to building on these interests by exploring the impact of health disparities on Type 2 Diabetes management. Following her fellowship, she plans to pursue a career as a physician, combining her interests in medicine, public health, and health equity. Outside of the NIH, Elise enjoys watching sports, spending time outdoors, and reading.