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Leanna Ross

Assistant Professor in Medicine
Medicine, Cardiology
3475 Erwin Road, Aesthetics Bldg., Rm 281, Durham, NC 27705

Overview


Dr. Ross's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which exercise interventions elicit short- and long-term cardiometabolic health benefits.  As cardiometabolic disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, the goal of her translational research is to enhance the development of evidence-based, precision exercise interventions that optimally prevent and treat disease.

Areas of Research Interest
Exercise dose-response and cardiometabolic health
Insulin action and glucose homeostasis
Legacy health benefits of exercise
Heterogeneity of response to exercise intervention
Precision lifestyle medicine
Epidemiology of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor in Medicine · 2024 - Present Medicine, Cardiology, Medicine
Member of Duke Molecular Physiology Institute · 2022 - Present Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published January 8, 2024
Study of Duke Heart Attack Patients Finds Definitive Benefit of Cardiac Rehab

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Recent Publications


Effects of amount, intensity, and mode of exercise training on the metabolic syndrome: A narrative review

Journal Article Sports Medicine and Health Science · January 1, 2025 Purpose: The purpose of this narrative review is to: 1) summarize findings from the three Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) randomized trials regarding the differential effects of exercise amount, intensit ... Full text Cite

Barriers and Predictors of Long-Term Physical Activity Maintenance: The STRRIDE i Reunion Cohort

Journal Article Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine · November 26, 2024 Introduction This study aimed to identify barriers and predictors of self-reported physical activity (PA) maintenance 10 yr following the Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE I) randomized trial among young ol ... Full text Cite

A Detailed Analysis of Cardiac Rehabilitation on 180-Day All-Cause Hospital Readmission and Mortality.

Journal Article J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev · March 1, 2024 PURPOSE: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is endorsed for coronary artery disease (CAD), but studies report inconsistent findings regarding efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine whether confounding factors, potentially contributing to these het ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


A precision health approach to target exercise interventions for short- and long-term cardiometabolic health benefits

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Heart Association · 2023 - 2026

Exercise-induced Legacy Health Benefits on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Aging Adults with Prediabetes

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of South Carolina, Columbia · 2017 Ph.D.