Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health
A Pennington Biomedical Research Center Laboratory
A Pennington Biomedical Research Center Laboratory
Founder, Director
Postdoctoral Fellows
Laboratory Staff
Administrative Staff
Undergraduate Students
Clinic Staff |
|
Professor Director, Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory Co-Scientific Director, Energy Metabolism Core Laboratory Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Telelphone 225/763-0947 | Fax 225/763-3009 |
 |
2000 | Southern Cross University | Bachelors of Science | Exercise Physiology 2004 | University of Adelaide | Doctor of Philosophy | Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2011 | Tulane University | Masters of Science | Clinical Research Dr. Redman is the Founder and Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. She is the Principal Investigator of multiple research studies currently enrolling subjects at Pennington Biomedical. Her research studies are comprised both of clinical and basic science research and involve investigations on women’s health, weight management, lifestyle intervention, endocrinology and energy metabolism.
Dr. Redman is an internationally renowned expert in human metabolic phenotyping and brings more than 10 years of clinical research experience in phenotyping human subjects including pregnant women in an effort to understand the mechanisms of obesity (weight gain and weight loss) as well as to develop and test inventions for effective treatment and prevention. Her research involves the controlled manipulation of diet and/or physical activity or administration of pharmaceutical agents to alter body energy stores and therefore body weight. In these studies she uses an array of sophisticated methodologies (doubly labeled water, whole-room indirect calorimetry, DXA and whole body MRI) to derive estimates of energy intake and energy expenditure to understand the role of these factors on body weight regulation.
Our Laboratory is currently conducting two NIH-funded studies in pregnant women; one to test whether a smartphone-directed intervention for overweight and obese pregnant women can ameliorate excessive gestational weight gain (U01DK094418); and the second, a mechanistic study that will test whether changes in energy intake, energy expenditure or changes in both, are responsible for excess gestational weight gain during pregnancies of women with obesity (R01DK099175). Unique to these studies is the phenotyping of infants and our interest in studying the early development obesity and metabolic disturbances in children. |
|
|
Postdoctoral Fellow Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Telephone 225/763-3141 | Fax 225/763-3009 |
 |
2015 | University of Ottawa | Bachelor of Science | Biological Sciences 2019 | University of Alberta | Doctor of Philosophy | Medical Sciences 2019 – 2020 | University of Oxford | Postdoctoral Fellow | Medical Sciences |
|
Dr. Kebbe is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology & Women's Health Laboratory. She has led pioneering research to develop innovative health solutions for clinical management of pediatric and adult obesity, including the development of a lifestyle modification tool called Conversation Cards for Adolescents©. In her current postdoctoral position, Dr. Kebbe’s research focuses on promoting body weight regulation in pregnant women with obesity. Further, she is investigating dietary profiles influencing the milk and gut microbiomes and subsequent infant metabolic physiology, body composition, and growth. Her overarching goal in maternal and infant phenotyping is to elucidate factors contributing to the early development of obesity and metabolic complications in children, thereby paving the way for developing novel, state-of-the-art interventions and therapies. |
|
|
Postdoctoral Fellow Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Telephone 225/763-2928 | Fax 225/763-3009 |
 |
2010 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | Bachelors of Science | Clinical Exercise Science 2012 | Louisiana Tech University | Masters of Science | Strength and Conditioning 2020 | University of South Carolina | Doctor of Philosophy | Exercise Science-Applied Physiology |
|
Dr. Sparks is a postdoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. He was classically trained as a clinical exercise scientist with a focus on cardiac rehabilitation prior to pursuing a strength and conditioning graduate degree working with Division 1 baseball and women’s soccer athletes. Upon completing his graduate degree, Dr. Sparks worked as clinical exercise physiologists at Duke University Medical Center before beginning his doctoral degree. During his doctoral research, his research focused on understanding how modifiable lifestyle factors, including diet, physical activity, and sleep influence cardiometabolic health in overweight or obese adults. Currently, Dr. Sparks is utilizing his training and research efforts to work within the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory and its affiliated research projects. |
|
|
Project Manager Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Telephone 225/763-2801 | Fax 225/763-3009 2011 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Biological Engineering 2013 | Louisiana State University | Masters of Science | Human Nutrition |
|
Ms. Altazan is a Project Manager in the Reproductive Endocrinology & Women's Health Laboratory. She works daily overseeing clinical trial research in the Redman Laboratory. She supervises the project team and works in collaboration to conduct research activities for active clinial research trials. Personally, she is focusing her research efforts on quantifying infant energy intake and energy expenditure, as well as other aspects of infant nutrition and health. |
|
|
Research Associate Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Tel. 225.763.0270 |Fax. 225.763.3009 2010 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Animal Science 2012 | Louisiana State University | Master's of Science | Equine Physiology |
|
Ms. Hebert completed a Master’s of Science at Louisiana State University in 2012. Her project studied the repeatability of prolactin responses to injections of sulpiride, and the effects Pergolide and Cabergoline had on prolatin suppression in the horse. Plasma prolactin levels were measured by using RIA. At Pennington Biomedical, she is a research associate and supports molecular and basic studies stemming from muscle and adipose tissue collected from subjects in human clinical trials. During her degree, she learned many laboratory skills including Western Blotting, Real Time PCR, and cell culturing (in vitro manipulation of human primary myotubes). |
|
|
Research Specialist Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA Telephone 225/763-2725 | Fax 225/763-3009 2017 |The University of Georgia | Bachelor of Arts | Anthropology 2020 | Emory University | Master of Public Health | Global Health |
 |
Ms. Dickey is a Maternal and Infant Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. She works daily supporting the clinical operations in the Redman Laboratory. She is currently focusing her research efforts on the relationship between healthy gestational weight gain and maternal and infant health outcomes, as well as other aspects of maternal and infant health. |
|
|
Research Specialist Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
2019 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Bachelors of Science | Nutrition Education and Promotion |
 |
Ms. Barlow is a Clinical Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. She works daily supporting the clinical operations in the Redman Laboratory. She is currently focusing her research efforts on promoting healthy gestational weight gain in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics across Louisiana as well as other aspects of maternal nutrition and behavioral health. |
|
|
Research Specialist Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
2021 | Bachelors of Science |
|
 |
| Ms. Crumpton is a Clinical Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. She works daily supporting the clinical operations in the Redman Laboratory. She is currently focusing her research efforts on promoting healthy gestational weight gain in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics across Louisiana as well as other aspects of maternal nutrition and behavioral health. | |
|
Research Specialist Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
2009 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Arts | Theatre Studies and Dance 2016 | Our Lady of the Lake College | Associate of Science | Physical Therapist Assisting 2021 | Lousiana State University Shreveport | Master of Healthcare Administration
|
 |
| Ms. Bunch is a Pediatric Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory. She works daily conducting study visits for the clinical research studies in the Redman Laboratory. She is currently focusing her research efforts onexploring how early life nutrition, specifically human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) impacts the health and development of formula fed infants and toddlers through 24 months of age. | |
|
Lifestyle Intervention Coach Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
2019 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Bachelor of Science | Health Education and Promotion 2020 | ACE Fitness | Certified Personal Trainer 2021 | NCHEC | Certified Health Education Specialist |
 |
Ms. Simeon is a Lifestyle Intervention Coach in the Reproductive Endocrinollogy and Women's Health Laboratory. She works daily with study participants in supporting intervention delivery for clinical research studies in the Redman Laboratory. Her current research focus is on the relationship between healthy gestational weight gain and maternal and infant health outcomes, as well as other aspects of maternal and infant health. |
|
Administrative Staff
|
|
Assistant to the Executive Director Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Southeastern Louisiana University | Bachelor of Science | Nursing |
 |
Mrs. Nauta is the assistant to the Executive Director, Leanne Redman, in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2018. Mrs. Nauta is a registered nurse with experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Woman's Hospital. She also served as the Administrator for a pediatric special needs facility before moving to Pennington Biomedical. She works daily managing administrative tasks in the laboratory and provides administrative support to all lab members.
|
|
Undergraduate Student Workers |
|
Undergraduate Student Worker Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Anticipated 2021 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences |
|
Ms. Denton is an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University. She works daily on study recruitment and performing clinical operations in the laboratory while completing her undergraduate degree. |
|
|
Undergraduate Student Worker Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Anticipated 2023 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences
|
 |
| Ms. Manuel is an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University. She works daily on study recruitment and performing clinical operations in the laboratory while completing her undergraduate degree. | |
|
Undergraduate Student Worker Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Anticipated 2024 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Engineering
|
 |
| Ms. Olinde is an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University. She works daily on study recruitment and performing clinical operations in the laboratory while completing her undergraduate degree. | |
|
Undergraduate Student Worker Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70808 USA
Anticipated 2024 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences
|
 |
| Ms. Olinde is an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University. She works daily on study recruitment and performing clinical operations in the laboratory while completing her undergraduate degree. | |
Anne Gooch Administrative Coordinator Eastern Michigan University | Bachelor of Arts | Anthropology
Ms. Gooch was the administrative coordinator for the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health lab. She started working at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in 2009 and began working with our lab in 2016. She worked daily managing administrative tasks in the laboratory and provided administrative support to all lab members. |
Zoe Bertrand Undergraduate Student Worker Anticipated 2022 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences
Ms. Bertrand was an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University. She worked daily on study recruitment and performing clinical operations in the laboratory while completing her undergraduate degree. |
Natalie Comardelle, BS Research Specialist 2019 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Kinesiology
Ms. Comardelle worked as a Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory. She worked daily supporting the clinical operations in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory. She focused her research efforts on promoting healthy gestational weight gain in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics across Louisiana as well as other aspects of maternal nutrition and behavioral health. |
Nicholas T. Broskey, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2009 | Saint Vincent College Bachelors of Science | Biology 2010 | University of Pittsburgh Masters of Science | Health & Fitness/Exercise Physiology 2015 | University of Lausanne Doctor of Philosophy | Life Sciences, Cardiovascular & Metabolism
Dr. Broskey worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. Originally trained as a skeletal muscle physiologist in regards to clinical exercise trials in the elderly population for diabetes prevention, he focused his work on the opposite side of the spectrum with infants. He partaked in measurements of energy expenditure and body composition in newborns as well as their mothers in order to better elucidate the link between maternal and infant metabolism. |
Jasper Most, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2010 | Maastricht University | Master of Physical Activity and Health | Exercise training in elderly 2016 | Maastricht University | Doctor of Philosophy | Polyphenol Supplementation in Obesity
Dr. Most worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. Dr. Most focused his postdoctoral research on the quantification of energy requirements in humans. His work focused on a prospective, observational study in obese pregnant women to understand the determinants of weight gain and energy requirements for fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. In these studies, Dr. Most mastered objective techniques that measure energy intake, energy expenditure, and physical activity. |
Dorien Reijnders-Most, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2011 | Radboud University Nijmegen| Master of Science | Toxicology and Pathobiology 2016 | Maastricht University | Doctor of Philosophy | Human Biology, Gut Microbiota in Obesity and Diabetes
Dr. Reijnders-Most worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory and the department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at LSU. She focused on the metabolic origins of fertility and pregnancy problems in obese women and mice. She analyzed data of clinical trials involving women with PCOS, and supported ongoing studies that used functional genomics to investigate the metabolic origin of preeclampsia in a specific mouse model. |
Porsha Vallo, MPA Research Specialist 2010 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences 2016 | Louisiana State University | Masters of Public Administration | Public Policy
Ms. Vallo worked as a Research Specialist in the Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health laboratory. She focused her efforts primarily on managing and coordinating the clinical research study MomEE, as well as supporting other clinical research studies active in the Redman Laboratory. |
L. Anne Gilmore, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2005 | Texas A&M University | Bachelor of Science | Nutritional Sciences 2010 | Texas A&M University | Doctor of Philosophy | Nutrition Dr. Gilmore is a registered dietician and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. Dr. Gilmore developed innovative dietary interventions to help manage body weight and insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes or seeking postpartum weight loss. Dr. Gilmore mastered techniques to measure body composition, energy intake, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity and physical activity in humans. She is now an Assistant Professor at Pennington Biomedical and applies these techniques with her background and training as she develops an independent area of research within the clinical management of patients with cancer and obesity. |
Elizabeth Frost Sutton, PhD Doctoral Student 2010 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biology 2017 | Louisiana State University | Doctor of Philosophy | Developmental and Molecular Biology Dr. Sutton completed her doctor of philosophy in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory. Her reseach focused on fibroblast growth factor 21 and its novel role as a protein sensor in pregnancy. Dr. Sutton is pursuing a career in academia and has accepted a postdoctorl fellowship at Magee Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
Alexis O'Connell Undergraduate Student Worker 2017 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biology Ms. O’Connell was an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University contributing to the clinical operations in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory. She completed her Undergraduate Honors Thesis in Biological Sciences using the REACHing WIC study to identify the barriers of integrating weight management interventions into the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. |
Allie Beyer Undergraduate Student Worker 2017 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biology Ms. Beyer w an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University contributing to the clinical operations in the laboratory. She worked daily performing clinic visits, processing charts, and study recruitment while completing her undergraduate degree. |
Allie Mitchell Undergraduate Student Worker 2015 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Arts | Sports Administration Ms. Mitchell earned a Bachelor’s of Arts from Louisiana State University in May of 2015. Ms. Mitchell contributed to our laboratory for two years supporting our daily clinical and office operations. During her time in our Laboratory, she ascertained administration, manageria and organization skills necessary to conduct and manage clinical research. |
| Monica Klempel-Donchenko, PhD
T32 Postdoctoral Trainee Dr. Klempel-Donchenko contributed to our laboratory by supporting the E-Moms Study. During her training, she ascertained skills such as assessment of anthropometrics and body composition in postpartum mothers, maintenance and processing of research charts, performance of research clinic visits as well as a wide understanding of clinical research operations and human subjects protections. |
Lexie Angelette Undergraduate Student Worker Anticipated 2015 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences Ms. Angelette contributed to our laboratory during the summer of 2014 supporting our daily laboartory operations. During her time in our Laboratory, she ascertained skills such as animal colony management, husbandry, measuring food intake. body weight and composition while gaining a wide understanding of clinical and basic science research operations. |
Kelli Jo Richard Undergraduate Student Worker Anticipated 2015 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences Ms. Richard contributed to our laboratory for a year and half supporting our daily clinical operations. During her time in our Laboratory, she ascertained skills such as assessment of anthropometrics, maintenance and processing of research charts, performance of research clinic visits as well as a wide understanding of clinical research operations and human subjects protections. |
Bo Zhang, BS Medical Student Trainee 2014 | Johns Hopkins University | Bachelors of Arts | Biophysics Mr. Zhang was a medical school study participating in the summer T35 research internship for medical school students in 2014. He worked in the Outpattient Clinic performing study visits. He was also involved with research data analysis and interpretation of the PULSE Study. |
Katelyn Falgout Undergraduate Student Worker 2014 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences Ms. Falgout earned a Bachelor’s of Science from Louisiana State University in May of 2014. Ms. Falgout contributed to our laboratory for a year and half supporting our daily clinical operations. During her time in our Laboratory, she ascertained skills such as assessment of anthropometrics and body composition in pregnant women and neonates, maintenance and processing of research charts, performance of research clinic visits as well as a wide understanding of clinical research operations and human subjects protections. Ms. Falgout will pursue her medical degree as she attends Medical School at Louisiana State University’s Health & Sciences Center. |
Andrea Chapa Undergraduate Student Worker 2014 | Louisiana State University | Bachelors of Science | Biological Sciences Ms. Chapa was an undergraduate student at Louisiana State University contributing to the clinical operations in the laboratory at the time of her laboratory involvement. While completing her undergraduate degree, she supported the Expecting Success study by conducting clinic visits, processing charts and helping maintain the Expecting Success Headquarters at Woman’s Hospital. |
Mary Sliverberg Medical Student Trainee 2011 | University of Georgia | Bachelors of Science | Biology and Psychology Ms. Silverberg was a medical school student participating in the summer T35 research internship for medical school students in 2012. She worked daily in the Outpatient Clinic performing study visits. She also is involved with research data analysis and interpretation. |
Alden Littlewood Medical Student Trainee 2010 | Duke University | Bachelors of Science | Biology Ms. Littlewood was a medical school student a participating in the summer T35 research internship for medical school students in 2012. She worked alongside Dr. Ebenezer in the basic science laboratory using biochemical and molecular techniques to analyze muscle and adipose tissue.
|
