Our Research
The Ray Lab investigates the biological pathways through which stress and social drivers shape cardiovascular health, with a focus on pregnancy as a critical window for long-term disease risk. Rooted in vascular biology, the lab takes a mechanistic approach to understanding how physiological and psychosocial exposures become embedded in the biology to drive cardiovascular disease and related outcomes from pregnancy through the lifespan, and why some populations bear a greater burden of disease than others.
A central focus of the lab is the evaluation of both physiologic and self-appraised stress measures, including allostatic load, a cumulative index of physiological stress, and perceived stress, as well as the mismatch between the two, and their collective role in shaping pregnancy outcomes and post-pregnancy cardiovascular health. Using omic approaches including epigenomics and transcriptomics, the lab investigates how stress and social drivers alter the biology during pregnancy and beyond, contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular sequelae in the years following pregnancy. Much of this work is conducted through ancillary studies to the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) and its Heart Health Study follow-up, one of the largest and most deeply phenotyped pregnancy cohorts in the United States.
Publications
1. Höke A, Ray M, 2014. Rodent models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. ILAR J. 54, 273-281. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilt053. PMID: 24615440
2. Kako F, Gabunia K, Ray M, Kelemen SE, England RN, Kako B, Scalia RG, Autieri MV, 2016. Interleukin-19 induces angiogenesis in the absence of hypoxia by direct and indirect immune mechanisms. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 310, C931-941. PMID: 30383449; PMCID: PMC6404561
3. Gabunia K, Herman AB, Ray M, Kelemen SE, England RN, DeLa Cadena R, Foster WJ, Elliott KJ, Eguchi S, Autieri MV, 2017. Induction of MiR133a expression by IL-19 targets LDLRAP1 and reduces oxLDL uptake in VSMC. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 105, 38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.02.005. PMID: 28257760; PMCID: PMC5394383.
4. Ray M, Autieri MV, 2017. Regulation of pro- and anti-atherogenic cytokines. Cytokine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2017.09.031. PMID: 29221669; PMCID: PMC5988906
5. Vrakas CN, Herman AB, Ray M, Kelemen SE, Scalia RG, Autieri MV, 2018. RNA stability protein ILF3 mediates cytokine-induced angiogenesis. FASEB J. Off. Publ. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. PMID: 30383449; PMCID: PMC6404561
6. Herman AB, Vrakas CN, Ray M, Kelemen SE, Sweredoski MJ, Moradian A, Haines DS, Autieri MV, 2018. FXR1 Is an IL-19-Responsive RNA-Binding Protein that Destabilizes Pro-inflammatory Transcripts in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Cell Rep. 24, 1176–1189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.002. PMID: 30067974.
7. Ray M, Gabunia K, Vrakas CN, Herman AB, Kako F, Kelemen SE, Grisanti LA, Autieri MV, 2018. Genetic Deletion of IL-19 Exacerbates Atherogenesis in Il19-/-×Ldlr-/- Double Knockout Mice by Dysregulation of mRNA Stability Protein HuR. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 38, 1297–1308. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.310929. PMID: 29674474; PMCID: PMC5970062.
8. Herman AB, Silva AM, Kelemen SE, Ray M, Vrakas CN, Burke AC, Scalia RG, Moore K, Autieri MV, 2019. Regulation of Stress Granule Formation by Inflammation, Vascular Injury, and Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.313034. PMID: 31462091; PMCID: PMC6761003.
9. Heinsberg LW, Ray M, Conley YP, Roberts JM, Jeyabalan A, Hubel CA, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ, 2021. An Exploratory Study of Epigenetic Age in Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnancy Reveals Differences by Self-Reported Race but Not Pregnancy Outcome. Reprod. Sci. Thousand Oaks Calif. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00575-6. PMID: 33877642; PMCID: PMC8526649.
10. Ray M, Heinsberg LW, Conley YP, Roberts JM, Jeyabalan A, Hubel CA, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ, 2021. An exploratory study of white blood cell proportions across preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancy by self-identified race in individuals with overweight or obesity. Hypertens. Pregnancy. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641955.2021.1987453. PMID: 34697971; PMCID: PMC8740522.
11. Heinsberg LW, Koleck TA, Ray M, Weeks DE, Conley YP, 2022. Advancing Nursing Research through Interactive Data Visualization with R Shiny. Biol. Res. Nurs. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004221121109. PMID: 36029021.
12. Ray M, Wallace MK, Grayson SC, Cummings MH, Davis JA, Scott J, Belcher SM, Davis TS, & Conley YP, 2022. Epigenomic Links Between Social Determinants of Health and Symptoms: A Scoping Review. Biol. Res. Nurs. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004221147300. PMID: 36537264.
13. Liu S, Fu H, Ray M, Heinsberg LW, Conley YP, Anderson CM, Hubel CA, Roberts JM, Jeyabalan A, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ, 2023. A longitudinal epigenome-wide association study in preeclamptic versus normotensive pregnancy. Epigenetics Commun. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43682-022-00014-w. PMID: 37063698; PMCID: PMC10101051.
14. Lueth A, Allshouse A, Blue N, Grobman W, Levine L, Catov J, Saade G, Yee L, Fernando W, Murtaugh M, Merz N, Chung J, Ray M, Scifres C, Silver R, 2023. Can Allostatic Load in Pregnancy Explain the Association between Race and Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Cohort study. BJOG. http://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17486. PMID: 37069728.
15. Khan SS, Petito LC, Harrington K, McNeil RB, Bello NA, Bairey Merz CN, Miller EZ, Ravi R, Scifres C, Catov JM, Pemberton V, Varagic J, Zee PC, Yee LM, Ray M, Kim JK, Lane-Cordova A, Lewey J, Theilen LH, Saade GR, Greenland P, Grobman WA, 2023. Associations Between Body Mass Index in Early Pregnancy, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Cardiovascular Health 2 to 7 Years Postpartum in the NuMoM2b-HHS Study: A Mediation Analysis. Circ Res. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322762. PMID: 37814889; PMCID: PMC10578703.
16. Barcelona V, Ray M, Zhao Y, Samari G, Wu H, Reho P, McNeil R, Reddy UM. Epigenomic pathways from racism to preterm birth: secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) cohort study in the USA to examine how DNA methylation mediates the relationship between multilevel racism and preterm birth in Black women: a study protocol. BMJ Open. 2025 Mar 4;15(3):e091801. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091801. PMID: 40037666; PMCID: PMC11881185.
17. Davis JA, Scott J, Ray M, Elgersma KM, Demirci JR, Levine MD. Racial Disparities in Birth and Lactation Outcomes Among Neonates with Congenital Heart Defects at a Regional Mid-Atlantic Heart Center. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Mar 24. doi: 10.1007/s40615-025-02390-0. PMID: 40126799.
18. Dos Santos JM, Kennedy T, Zhu J, McPike A, Ray M, Demirci J, Dechant J. Sex-Specific Adverse Association of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Peak Anaerobic Power and Skeletal Muscle Mass of Active Young Adults. J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Aug 13. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005223. PMID: 40853207.
19. Ray M, Heinsberg LW, McNeil RB, Grobman WA, Lueth A, Silver RM, Bairey Merz CN, Levine LD, Yee LM, Weeks DE, Conley YP, Catov JM. Allostatic Load Mediates Associations Between Race and Ethnicity and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Sep 4:10.1097/AOG.0000000000006062. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006062. PMID: 40907023; PMCID: PMC12412905.
20. Kozai AC, Gibbs BB, Levine LD, Lane A, Ray M, Grobman WA, Greenland P, Hoffman MK, Merz NB, Zee PC, Mims L, Cameron NA, Saade G, Silver R, Bello NA, Miller EC, Reddy U, Chung JH, Whitaker KM, Catov JM. Associations of early pregnancy health behaviors with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and future maternal blood pressure (In Press February 15, 2026 – American Journal of Preventive Cardiology).
Abstracts
1. Ray M, Reed N, Zhu J, and Höke A. (October 2012). Ethoxyquin is a neuroprotective drug in a model of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated sensory neuropathy. Poster Presentation, Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA.
2. Ray M, Richards J, Gabunia K, Kelemen S, and Autieri M. (May 2015). Loss of Interleukin-19 exacerbates experimental atherosclerosis. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2015 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA.
3. Ray M, Gabunia K, Ellison S, Kelemen SE, Kako F, Cornwell, WP, … & Autieri, MV. (August 2015). Interleukin-19 halts progression of atherosclerotic plaque, polarizes, and increases cholesterol uptake and efflux in macrophages. Poster Presentation, Vasculata, Charlottesville, VA.
4. Herman AB, England RN, Haines DS, Kelemen SE, Ray M, Autieri MV. (May 2017). FXR1 Regulates Inflammatory MRNA Stability and VSMC Proliferation by Modulation of HuR Activity. Podium Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2017 Scientific Sessions, Minneapolis, MN. \
5. Ray M, Gabunia, K, Vrakas CN, Kako, F, Kelemen SE, Herman AB, Autieri MV. (May 2017). Genetic Deletion of Interleukin-19 Exacerbates Atherogenesis and Inflammatory Gene Expression in Ldlr-/- Mice. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2017 Scientific Sessions, Minneapolis, MN.
6. Ray M, Gabunia K, Herman AB, Kelemen SE, England RN, Elliott KJ, … & Autieri MV. (June 2017). Induction of MiR133a expression by IL-19 Targets LDLRAP1 and Reduces oxLDL Uptake in VSMC. Poster Presentation, Atherosclerosis Gordon Research Conference, Newry, ME.
7. Herman AB, Vrakas CN, Ray M, Kelemen, SE, Autieri MV. (May 2018). Stress Granule Formation as. Molecular Indicator of Atherosclerotic and Vascular Disease Progression. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2018 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA.
8. Vrakas CN, Herman AB, Ray M, Landesberg GP, Kelemen SE, … & Autieri MV. (May 2018). The Role of Interleukin-19 in Adipose Tissue Homeostasis. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2018 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA.
9. Vrakas CN, Herman AB, Ray M, Landesberg GP, Kelemen SE, … & Autieri MV. (May 2018). RNA Stability Protein ILF3 Mediates IL-19 Induced Angiogenesis. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – Peripheral Vascular Disease 2018 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA.
10. Ray M, Heinsberg LW, Wallace MK, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ. (November 2020). Utilization of epigenome-wide DNA methylation for longitudinal comparison of leukocyte proportions across preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancy. Podium Presentation, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, Virtual.
11. Wallace MK, Heinsberg LW, Ray M, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ. (November 2021). Identifying Alterations in the Inflammatory Milieu of Preeclamptic Pregnancies. Podium Presentation, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, Virtual.
12. Ray M, Scott J, Davis JA. (November 2021). History of Racism and Oppressive Language in Research: A Brief Introduction. Expert Lecture, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, Virtual.
13. Ray M, Heinsberg LW, Wallace MK, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ. (November 2021). Longitudinal DNA Methylation Profiles of Chromosome 19 microRNA Cluster Across Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnancy. Podium Presentation, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, Virtual.
14. Ray M, Heinsberg LW, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ. (February 2022). MicroRNA-associated DNA Methylation in a Longitudinal, Exploratory Study of Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnancy. Poster Presentation, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Virtual.
15. Wallace M, Heinsberg LW, Ray M, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Schmella MJ. (March 2022). Suggestive differences of DNA Methylation at ICAM between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies. Poster Presentation, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Denver, CO.
16. Ray M, McNeil RB, Grobman WA, Catov JM, Schmella MJ, Conley YP. (February 2023). First-trimester Allostatic Load Varies by Self-identified Race/Ethnicity and HDP. Poster Presentation, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
17. Ray M, Fang F, Moore A, McNeil RB, Grobman WA, Weeks DE, Catov JM, Conley YP. Evaluation of First-trimester Perceived Stress and DNA Methylation among non-Hispanic Black and White Individuals Who Develop Preeclampsia or Non-Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. International Society of Nurses in Genetics, November 2023, Providence, RI.
18. Davis JA, Elgersma KM, Ray M, Scott J, Klein J, Levine MD. Indicators of Health-Related Social Needs as Predictors for Birth and Lactation Outcomes among Neonates with Critical Congenital Heart Defects: A Preliminary Analysis. Poster Presentation, Pediatric Academic Societies, May 2024, Toronto, Canada.
19. Ray M, Oppong R, Catov J, Scott J. First-trimester allostatic load partially mediates the association between neighborhood deprivation and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Podium Presentation, Society for Reproductive Investigation, March 2025, Charlotte, NC.
20. Kozai AC, Gibbs BB, Levine LD, Lane A, Grobman W, Greenland P, Hoffman MK, Merz NB, Zee PC, Mims L, Cameron NA, Saade G, Silver R, Ray M, Bello N, Miller EC, Reddy U, Chung JH, Whitaker KM, Catov JM. Early Pregnancy Health Behavior Profiles are Associated with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Poster Presentation, American College of Sports Medicine 2025 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
21. Ray M, Deng Z, Silver R, Greenland P, Yee L, Saade G, Grobman W, Ren D, Catov J. Allostatic load change from first trimester to post-pregnancy differs by self-identified race/ethnicity. Oral Presentation, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science Annual Meeting, September 2025, Pittsburgh, PA.
22. Ray M, Taylor B, Moore A, Fang F, McNeil RB, … & Conley YP. First-trimester allostatic load is associated with differential DNA methylation. Oral presentation, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, November 2025, Monreal, QC.
23. Kozai AC, Lane AD, Koczo A, Ray M, Sternfeld B, … & Catov JM. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with higher blood pressure response to exercise and shorter exercise duration after pregnancy: the CARDIA cohort. American Heart Association Epi Lifestyle on March 2026, Boston, MA.
24. Kozai AC, Deng Z, Gibbs BB, Grobman W, Yee L, … & Ray M. Profiles of health behaviors in early pregnancy are associated with allostatic load in pregnancy and 2-7 years following delivery: the nuMoM2b-HHS1 cohort. American Heart Association Epi Lifestyle, March 2026, Boston, MA.
25. Ray M, Kozai AC, Heidari-Soureshjani R, Fang F, Moore A, … & Conley YP. First-trimester epigenetic age acceleration is associated with development of preeclampsia. Society for Reproductive Investigation, March 2026, San Juan, PR.