Jayna M. Dave

Dr. Jayna M. Dave is a Research Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, School of Medicine, and leads the Dave Lab at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) in Houston, Texas. Her research focuses on obesity and chronic disease prevention through socio-environmental interventions, food assistance programs, and community-engaged approaches.

• University: Baylor College of Medicine
• School: School of Medicine
• Department: Children's Nutrition Research Center
• Role: Principal Investigator, Research Professor

Her research interests include obesity prevention, behavioral nutrition, food security, Food is Medicine (FIM), and public health nutrition. She employs qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research to evaluate interventions in childcare, schools, and community settings. Her work emphasizes improving nutrition among low-income and minority populations.

Dr. Dave's recent publications (2022–2012) highlight trends in evaluating federal nutrition programs (CACFP, NSLP, SNAP), food access disparities, and family-based interventions. Her studies often focus on Hispanic and Black communities in under-resourced areas, using data from NHANES and community-based participatory methods.

She mentors a diverse group of students and trainees, including undergraduates, MPH students, medical trainees, and postdoctoral researchers. Her lab collaborates with nutritionists, public health professionals, and community organizations.

• Community-engaged research
• Childhood obesity prevention
• Food assistance program evaluation
• Health disparities
• Qualitative and mixed-methods research
• Mentorship and training

Dr. Dave’s lab is housed within the state-of-the-art CNRC facility, which supports metabolic research, observation labs, and community-based studies. While no individual scientific awards are listed, her institution has received national recognition for wellness programming.