Melissa Witman

Dr. Melissa Witman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology at the University of Delaware, within the College of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding vascular function and blood flow regulation in chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions. She holds a B.S. in Biology from St. Lawrence University, an M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah. Her postdoctoral training in Geriatrics at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center further shaped her expertise in aging-related vascular challenges.

Her laboratory investigates mechanisms behind cardiomyopathy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and explores interventions to improve health outcomes. Current funding includes a NIH/NIGMS COBRE P20 grant (as PI) and a University of Delaware Research Foundation grant. Her work bridges exercise science, clinical physiology, and translational research.

Research Interests:

• Vascular dysfunction in chronic diseases
• Exercise and lifestyle interventions
• Cardiac-vascular interactions in aging and disease

Key Projects:

• Vascular Consequences of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (NIH-funded): Evaluates early detection and medical therapies for heart failure in DMD patients.
• Chronobiology studies: Investigates sleep timing, eating patterns, and their links to cardiovascular risk markers like carotid intima-media thickness.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Vascular Function in Chronic Disease Research Laboratory, focusing on mechanistic and translational studies in cardiovascular health.