Dr Kim Innes

Dr. Innes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia School of Public Health and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Virginia Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies.

She is an epidemiologist and clinical research scientist with a particular interest in yoga and related mind-body therapies for the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and other chronic disorders related to aging, stress, sympathetic activation, and metabolic dysregulation.

Funded by grants from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Office of Women’s Health, Dr. Innes’ research has included clinical trials to assess the effects of yoga on CVD risk profiles in sedentary, post-menopausal women and older adults with type 2 diabetes; on sleep, mood, and related outcomes in older women with restless legs syndrome, on pain, function and related outcomes in older adults with osteoarthritis, and on physical function in healthy elders and adults with Parkinson’s Disease.

In addition, she is spearheading research initiatives to investigate the potential benefits of yoga-based interventions for adults with cognitive impairment (a 3 year study, funded by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation), and other related conditions.

Additional research projects include investigations regarding the determinants, distribution, and sequelae of specific sleep disorders in West Virginia adults and the relation of specific environmental pollutants to the development of chronic, proinflammatory, age-related conditions, including cancer and osteoarthritis.

Dr. Innes has authored numerous scientific articles regarding mind-body medicine, perinatal/reproductive and chronic disease epidemiology, and sleep medicine, including publications in JAMA, AJE, Epidemiology, Menopause, Sleep Medicine Reviews, Sleep Medicine, JACM, eCAM, and other major journals.