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Salma Musaad

Musaad

Salma Musaad

Professor

Email

salma.musaad@bcm.edu

Positions

Professor
Pediatrics-Nutrition
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Houston, TX, US

Education

PhD from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
06/2007 - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
06/2003 - Cincinnati, OH
Ophthalmology
MD from University of Khartoum School of Medicine
06/1996 - Khartoum, Sudan
Medicine and Surgery

Professional Statement

My main research interests focus on the environmental, social and molecular determinants of chronic disorders including obesity, diabetes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Websites

Salma Musaad Lab

Selected Publications

  • Mihail S, Partida M, Villanueva L, Thompson D, O'Connor TM, Musaad SM, Redondo MJ, Soltero EG. " " JMIR Form Res. 2026 Feb ; 10 : e67800.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • O’Connor TM, Garza T, Alam U, Kumar Vadathya A, Moreno JP, Beltran A, Haidar S, Haidar N, Hughes SO, Thompson D, Musaad SMA, Baranowski T, Mendoza JA, Young J, Sano A, Veeraraghavan A. " " Behav Inf Technol. 2026 Feb ; 45 (3) : 564-575.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • Itani A, Gronseth SL, Musaad S, Nguyen T, Mirabile Y, Beech BM. " " Int J Educ Technol High Educ. 2025 Nov ; 22 (1) : 68.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • Ramos MW, Gonzalez de Corcuera S, Mirabile Y, Musaad SMA, Raphael M, Gordon CM. " " Matern Child Health J. 2025 Nov ; 29 (11) : 1520-1527.
    Pubmed PMID: .

Funding

Rare Organic Acidemias Research (ROAR) Consortium
#U54 HD121579
$8,163,531.00   (09/01/2025 - 08/31/2030)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Co-Investigator (MPI: V. Reid Sutton & Lindsay Burrage, BCM) 1) Perform collaborative, multi-site, clinical and translational research in organic acidemias that will prioritize patient/community concerns, enhance knowledge, improve care, and advance clinical trial readiness; 2) Train and attract a cohort of investigators in organic acidemias research; 3) Serve as a hub for the development of innovative new strategies for managing and treating organic acidemias; and 4) Collaborate with two patient advocacy groups, the RDCRN Data Management and Coordinating Center, and other RDCRN consortia to advance care and educate patients, families, and healthcare providers across a broad spectrum of rare diseases. (Admin Core)
Comparative Feasibility and Effectiveness of Medically Tailored Meals Approaches for Pediatric End Stage Kidney Disease
#R01 DK141577
$918,998.00   (09/09/2025 - 06/30/2026)
Grant funding from NIH/NIDDK
Role: Co-Investigator (MPI: Jayna Dave & Elizabeth Onugha, BCM) The purpose of our study is to conduct a short-term proof-of-concept 2-arm randomized comparative effectiveness trial to acquire preliminary data regarding feasibility and the impact of two medically tailored meals approaches - the culinary medicine-based MTMs vs. pre-prepared MTMs - for ESKD pediatric patients.
Addressing Clinical Trial Readiness in Osteogenesis Imperfecta Using Longitudinal Data from the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium
$201,643.00   (07/01/2025 - 07/01/2026)
Grant funding from Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Sandesh Nagamani, BCM) This study will characterize the key disease-specific endpoints longitudinally for pediatric and adult patients with OI types I, III, and IV. Data gathered from this study has the potential to inform design and also to serve as an external control data for Ultragenyx’s future interventional trials. Most importantly, the data from the project can provide comprehensive clinical trial readiness information.
The AGEIS Study
$213,624.00   (07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026)
Grant funding from Indiana University Foundation
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Molly Rosenberg, IU) Conduct creative research related to COVID-19 that leads to better outcomes for humans who have had COVID-19. Better understand the mechanisms and ways in which COVID-19 infection leads to long-term alterations in health and well-being.
Comparative Bioenergetics of Aging - Comparative Data Analytics Core
#P30 AG050886
$552,846.00   (06/01/2025 - 05/31/2030)
Grant funding from NIH/NIA
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Steven Austad, UAB) Provide statistical support for investigators studying questions related to comparative energetics of aging, including traditional, specialized, and bespoke methods; conducting high-level statistical investigations of secondary data to answer questions about the comparative energetics of aging; develop and evaluate statistical methods needed in the field of the comparative energetics of aging and provide reproducibility, verification, and transparency support for aging researchers.
Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center
#U24 AG056053
$796,109.00   (06/01/2025 - 04/30/2030)
Grant funding from NIH/NIA
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Odette van der Willik, American Federation for Aging Research) Provide logistical support to the NSCs and NIA through an organizational and management infrastructure that will foster networking, scientific exchange, resource sharing and collaborations across the NSCs and the field.
Experimental effects of light and content from evening screen media use on children's sleep, executive functioning, and emotion regulation
#R01 HD112349
$3,050,911.00   (09/01/2023 - 08/31/2028)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Co-Investigator (Co-PIs: Jennette Moreno, BCM; Candace Alfano, UH) This project aims to disentangle the impact of evening light exposure emitted from tablet devices from the impact of arousing media content on children’s sleep regulation, circadian physiology and next-day emotion regulation and executive functioning.
Increasing Future AI-Precision Nutrition Research Workforce to Promote Nutrition and Health
#T32 MD018933
(09/23/2023 - 04/30/2028)
Grant funding from NIH/NIMHD
Role: Principal Investigator (MPI: Seungchan Kim (contact PI) & Janet Antwi – PVAMU) The aims of this training program are to 1) recruit, train, and financially support predoctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in AI/ML or nutritional science to the AI-Precision Nutrition research training program as a mechanism to build a skilled workforce of scientists integrating AI and Precision Nutrition to address nutrition and health issues; 2) develop and enhance research training program, technical assistance, and mentorship opportunities for such trainees to prepare, build capacity, and advance the field of knowledge and collaborative and integrated research in AI-Precision Nutrition approaches to tackle nutrition and health issues; and 3) provide professional development and foster leadership skills in AI-Precision Nutrition for our trainees who are positioned to apply for fellowships, grants, and as a way to facilitate exposure to careers in AI- Precision Nutrition research and transition to research-intensive careers in academia, industry, the NIH, and private foundations.
Validation of biomarkers of infant and toddler carotenoid intake
#R01 HD111555
$3,017,898.00   (05/01/2023 - 04/30/2028)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Nancy Moran, BCM) The aims of this study are to test the validity of Reflection spectroscopy-measured skin carotenoid score (SCS) as a biomarker of multi-carotenoid and fruit and vegetable intake across infancy and early toddlerhood; to define SCS relative to blood carotenoid responses during a controlled carotenoid intervention in toddlers; and to test the associations between plasma carotenoid concentrations with visual function in early life.
Leveraging passive objective assessment methods of preschooler’s media use to examine multiple paths of influence on sleep, executive function and weight status – Admin Core-001
#P01 HD109876
$455,815.00   (09/01/2022 - 08/31/2027)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Co-Investigator (Program Leader: Teresia O'Connor, BCM) The goal of this subproject is to provide administrative support to the overall program.
Leveraging passive objective assessment methods of preschooler’s media use to examine multiple paths of influence on sleep, executive function and weight status – Biostatistics and Data Management Core-002
#P01 HD109876
$556,769.00   (09/01/2022 - 08/31/2027)
Grant funding from NIH/NICHD
Role: Principal Investigator (Program Leader: Teresia O'Connor, BCM) The goal of this subproject is to provide statistical support to the overall program.
Efficacy trial of a program for weight loss for Hispanic fathers and increased physical activity for their children: Healthy Dads Healthy Kids
#R61/R33 HL155015
$2,681,651.00   (09/01/2021 - 08/31/2026)
Grant funding from NIH/NHLBI
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Teresia O'Connor, BCM) The goals of this project are to assess the efficacy of a culturally adapted ‘Healthy Dads Healthy Kids’ program for Hispanic families among a low-income sample of Hispanic families.

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