Olufunto Badmus

Olufunto O. Badmus, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). She holds a B.Tech in Physiology from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, an MSc and PhD in Physiology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and completed postdoctoral training at UMMC under Dr. David E. Stec. Her research focuses on understanding mechanisms linking metabolic diseases like NAFLD to cardiovascular dysfunction, with particular emphasis on bilirubin pathways, hepatic steatosis, and gestational steroid effects.

Key affiliations include the School of Medicine and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at UMMC. Her work combines molecular biology, echocardiography, and animal models to investigate cardiovascular outcomes in metabolic disorders. Notable honors include the 2021 Keystone Symposia Scholarship and the 2016 Best Oral Presentation award at the African Association of Physiological Sciences.

Research interests span the role of bilirubin in metabolic signaling, NAFLD-induced hypertension, and the impact of glucocorticoids/mineralocorticoids on cardio-metabolic health. She has pioneered studies using PPARα knockout mice to model hepatic steatosis and cardiovascular disease. Her lab explores lipid metabolism pathways and therapeutic interventions for metabolic-associated conditions.

Recent work highlights the role of biliverdin reductase in hepatic dysfunction and the potential of bilirubin as a biomarker for insulin resistance. She collaborates on projects linking gut-liver-kidney axis interactions to CKM syndrome pathophysiology.

Professional memberships include the American Physiological Society, American Heart Association, and Physiological Society of Nigeria. Her contributions are documented in over 20 peer-reviewed publications, with a focus on translational research bridging metabolic and cardiovascular disciplines.