Keshari M. Thakali

Keshari M. Thakali is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), College of Medicine. She is affiliated with the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center (ACNC), where she conducts research on maternal programming and offspring cardiovascular development.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. in Environmental Science, University of Arizona
• Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Michigan State University

Dr. Thakali's research centers on understanding how maternal nutrition, particularly during pregnancy, influences the development of cardiovascular function in offspring. She investigates the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) as a paracrine regulator of vascular function and how maternal obesity and dietary factors such as methionine intake disrupt PVAT function, increasing long-term cardiovascular disease risk in children. Her work bridges physiology, nutrition, and developmental biology.

Her research contributes to a broader systems-based approach at ACNC to assess how maternal diet and physical activity impact offspring health. Although no publications or advisees are listed here, her scientific focus suggests strong alignment with developmental cardiovascular science and metabolic programming.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Thakali joined the ACNC in September 2011 and continues active research in pediatric cardiovascular physiology. While grant details are not provided, her long-standing affiliation with ACNC indicates sustained research activity. She mentors within a collaborative research environment focused on early-life determinants of chronic disease.

She is part of a multidisciplinary team at the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, which employs a systems biology approach to study maternal and child health. The team integrates physiological, nutritional, and molecular techniques to understand developmental programming of chronic diseases.