Joann McDermid
Assistant Professor
2009
HENutrSciWeb Bio Page
Current Activities
Current Professional Activities
Cornell Graduate Field Membership: Nutrition, Epidemiology
Faculty Associate, Institute for African Development
Member, American Dietetic Association
Member, Dietitians of Canada
Member, ADA Infectious Diseases Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group
Member, ADA Research Dietetic Practice Group
Member, Global Health Council
Member, International Union of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases
Member, American Society of Nutrition
Current Research Activities
Determinants of disease progression and mortality in HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-dual infection; Determinants of tuberculosis susceptibility; Iron metabolism at the host-pathogen interface; Iron redistribution during infection; Iron status assessment; Global health nutrition and dietetics; Nutritional epidemiology.
Biography
Biographical Statement
Joann McDermid received her Bachelor of Science degree (First Class Honours) in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990, and became a registered dietitian in 1991 after completing a specialized clinical dietetic internship at The Kingston General Hospital in Kingston, Ontario. Her Master of Science degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition and her Post-Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 1996 and 1998 were obtained from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. In 2007, Joann received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Epidemiology and Population Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (University of London) in London, England. She became an Assistant Professor of Global Health & Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in 2008.
Joann investigates the role of nutrition, genes and gene-nutrient interactions in infectious diseases within a global context. At this time, the focus is to model host iron status and human genes involved in iron metabolism as determinants of infection susceptibility or infectious disease outcomes in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. This work will inform decisions about defining best practice for anemia prophylaxis and treatment in areas with high infectious disease burdens. Furthermore, elucidating determinants of tuberculosis will assist in refining clinical algorithms for challenging disease diagnosis and in identifying iron-related determinants as alternative surrogate markers that may be used in monitoring and the medical management of HIV infection within an economically-challenged setting.
Education
- PhD, 2007 - University of London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Epidemiology & Population Health
- Postgraduate Diploma, 1998 - McGill University, Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- Master of Science, 1996 - McGill University, Dietetics & Human Nutrition
- Graduate Clinical Dietetic Internship, 1991 - Kingston General Hospital, Clinical Dietetics
- Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors), 1990 - University of Alberta, Foods & Nutrition
Administrative Responsibilities
Faculty Search Committee
Field of Nutrition Seminar Committee
Keywords
Iron metabolism, HIV/AIDS, TB, nutritional immunology, nutritional epidemiology, nutrient-gene interactions, global health, clinical dietetics
Courses, Websites, Pubs
Courses Taught
NS3060 Nutritional Problems in Developing Countries
NS6370 Topics in Nutritional Epidemiology
Related Websites
DNS Home Page
Selected Publications
McDermid JM, Schim van der Loeff MF, Jaye A, et al. Mortality in HIV infection is independently predicted by host iron status and Solute Carrier Family 11A (proton-coupled divalent metal transporter) member 1 (SLC11A1) and Haptoglobin genotypes, with new evidence of a gene-nutrient interaction. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90(1):225-233.
McDermid JM, Jaye A, Schim van der Loeff MF, et al. Elevated iron status strongly predicts mortality in West African Adults with HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007;46(4):498-507.
McDermid JM, Prentice AM. Iron and infection: effects of host iron status and the iron-regulatory genes haptoglobin and NRAMP1 (SLC11A1) on host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis and HIV. Clin Sci. 2006;110(5):503-524.
Fields-Gardner C, Fergusson P, Hayes CR, Sanders M, Kelley C, Brison CM, Knoll LL, Rothpletz-Puglia P, Badenhorst AM, Kasten G, De Maio S, McDermid JM, et al. Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Nutrition Intervention in the care of persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Am Diet Assoc 2004;104:1425-1441.
Prentice AM, Doherty C, McDermid JM, et al. The ancient battle for iron: Our struggle with pathogens. Biochem 2003;25:15-18.
Price P, Bolitho P, Jaye A, Glasson M, Yindom LM, Sirugo G, Chase D, McDermid JM, Whittle H. A Gambian TNF haplotype matches the European HLA-A1,B8,DR3 and Chinese HLA A33,B58,DR3 haplotypes. Tissue Antigens 2003;62:72-5.
McDermid JM, Kubow S, Gray-Donald K, et al. Associations between dietary antioxidant intake and oxidative stress in HIV seropositive and seronegative men and women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002;29:158-64.
Book Chapter/Contribution to a collective work:
Rehabilitation Services: A Comprehensive Guide for the Care of Persons with HIV Disease. Ottawa: Health Canada, 1998.