Jessica L. Fetterman, PhD
Assistant Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Vascular Biology

PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
BA, Ohio Wesleyan University

Pronouns: she/her/hers



Jessica L. Fetterman, PhD, is a basic and translational scientist studying the intersections of mitochondrial physiology, mitochondrial genetics, and cardiovascular disease. She is a member of the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, a member of the Genome Science Institute, and an ancillary member of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Boston University. She is a Framingham Heart Study Investigator and Fellow of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Fetterman leads a research program focused on studying the role and mechanisms of mitochondrial genetics in cardiovascular pathophysiology using population-level genetics approaches, mechanistic studies in human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to cardiovascular cells, and multiomics and systems biology approaches in biobanked human samples. A key barrier in the field is the limited literature studying mitochondrial genetics in human cardiovascular cells and tissues. To facilitate such efforts, her team has developed and published a protocol for biobanking of whole human hearts preserved to maintain the spatial resolution for multiomics, which served as the basis for a funded multi-PI R01 with Deepa M. Gopal, MD, MS, to establish the Framingham Heart Study Cardiovascular Biobank, a program they co-direct called the Lifelong Endowment for Genomic and Cellular DiscoverY (LEGACY).

Her team has ongoing studies manipulating mitochondrial genes implicated in mitochondrial cardiomyopathies and heart failure in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Relatedly, she received a Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award for an innovative approach to targeting nucleotide sequences into mitochondria, a key barrier to the implementation of CRISPR-Cas systems on the mitochondrial genome. The team is also working on creating novel bioinformatics pipelines to enhance our ability to delineate pathogenic and benign variants and to enable the investigation of mitochondrial-nuclear genetic interactions.

She has directly mentored 40 high school students, undergraduates, PhD candidates, medical students, residents, fellows, and early-career faculty, of whom 17 are from groups underrepresented in science and medicine, who have published >39 papers. She has led two American Heart Association fellowship programs. Dr. Fetterman was recognized for her deep commitment to mentorship with the Boston University Department of Medicine Junior Faculty Mentoring Award.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Within our lab, we strive to create a respectful and inclusive environment where all voices are encouraged, regardless of rank, seniority, position, or background. We each bring different experiences and perspectives that allow us to grow and develop new areas of research together. Creativity thrives in an open, positive environment where everyone’s viewpoint and input is valued and all member contributions are welcome and appreciated. We expect members of our lab to contribute to the growth and advancement of the entire group by providing timely, behaviorally-based, constructive feedback to team members and by sharing resources, protocols, and credit. Members of our team are expected to lift each other up as they rise, not tear each other down.

We approach our science with a diversity, equity, inclusive, and accessibility focus. We include both sexes and individuals across different ancestries and races in our research studies.

I am deeply committed to the mentorship and advancement of individuals from under-represented groups in science and medicine. I have mentored 25 undergraduates, PhD candidates, medical students, residents, and fellows, of whom, 22 are from groups under-represented in science. As an emerging leader, I believe it is the responsibility of each of us to mentor and advocate for change to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible field.

Investigator
Framingham Heart Study


Member
Boston University
Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research




Creation of the Framingham Heart Study Cardiovascular Biobank and Atlas
09/01/2025 - 06/30/2030 (Multi-PI)
PI: Jessica L. Fetterman, PhD
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1R01HL176818-01A1

Development Of Novel Approaches For Editing Mitochondrial Genetic Variants In Patient-Derived Stem Cells
11/01/2024 - 10/31/2026 (Subcontract PI)
Health Resources in Action, Inc. Richard/Susan Smith


Mitochondrial Genetic Variation Across Human Tissues
09/01/2023 - 05/31/2026 (PI)
NIH/National Institute on Aging
5R03AG081053-02

Relations of Mitochondrial Genetic Variation and Function with Atrial Fibrillation
04/01/2019 - 03/31/2024 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5K01HL143142-05

Strategies to Understand Pathobiology, Predictors & Pharmacotherapy to Reduce Adverse CV Outcomes in T2DM (SUPER-CVDM)
01/01/2020 - 12/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. American Heart Assoc


E-cigarette-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Human Participants
01/01/2017 - 12/31/2018 (PI)
American Heart Association


AHA Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center: Vascular Core Laboratory
07/01/2016 - 08/31/2018 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
American Heart Association NIH NHLBI
5P50HL120163-05

TOPMed Informatics Resource Center - Data and Working Group Support
04/01/2017 - 04/30/2018 (Subcontract PI)
University of Michigan NIH NHLBI
5R01HL117626-05

American Heart Association Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center (A-TRACT) - Project 2: Cardiovascular Injury due to Tobacco Use
09/19/2013 - 06/30/2017 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
American Heart Association NIH NHLBI
5P50HL120163-03



Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Website       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Milstone ZJ, Moreira-Bouchard JD, Smith KK, Anilkumar A, Gower AC, Alekseyev Y, Cunha JA, Fisher N, Legler L, Lepson J, Tao BS, Williams C, Benjamin EJ, Levy D, Mitchell RN, Padera RF, Shah H, Choi SH, Gopal DM, Tucker NR, Fetterman JL. Multiomics investigation of the female hypertensive human heart. Physiol Rep. 2025 Oct; 13(19):e70586.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41036600; PMCID: PMC12489463; DOI: 10.14814/phy2.70586;
     
  2. Cornacchione Ross J, Ranker LR, Fetterman JL, Benjamin EJ, Hong T. Public Support for Warning Label Policies on Social Media Among U.S. Adults in 2024. Am J Prev Med. 2025 Dec; 69(6):108067.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40854337; DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108067;
     
  3. Nessen EJ, Xanthakis V, Gopal DM, Fetterman JL, Roberts LM, Moreira-Bouchard JD. Depression, anxiety, stress, and resting blood pressure between cisgender queer and heterosexual emerging adults. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2025 Sep 01; 329(3):H724-H729.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40839380; DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00593.2025;
     
  4. Jebai R, Hong T, Ranker LR, Wu J, Rohila A, Fetterman JL, Cornacchione Ross J. Social Media Engagement and Quit Intentions Among Youth With Exclusive E-cigarette Use: The Moderating Role of Social Norms. Nicotine Tob Res. 2025 Jul 22; 27(8):1438-1446.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39912206; DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntaf031;
     
  5. Toro C, Eromosele OB, Flynn DB, Wilson AA, Kotton DN, Hughes TM, Moreira-Bouchard JD, Post WS, Bertoni AG, Benjamin EJ, Gopal DM, Fetterman JL. Organ Donation for Research Biobanking Among Historically Marginalized Racial and Ethnic Groups: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 01; 8(5):e2512133.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40423972; PMCID: PMC12117466; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.12133;
     
  6. Vasquez JH, Yuan J, Leow CJ, Crossey E, Shao F, Carty S, Dominguez VA, Lo M, Mizgerd JP, Fetterman JL, Lau NC, Fine A, Jones MR. Somatic Miwi2 modulates mitochondrial function in airway multiciliated cells and exacerbates influenza pathogenesis. iScience. 2025 Apr 18; 28(4):112291.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40241756; PMCID: PMC12002665; DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112291;
     
  7. Cooper LL, Majid S, Wang N, Fetterman JL, Palmisano JN, Benjamin EJ, Vasan RS, Mitchell GF, Hamburg NM. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of smoking behaviour with central arterial haemodynamic measures: the Framingham Heart Study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Feb 05.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39907713; PMCID: PMC12701739; DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf012;
     
  8. Moreira-Bouchard JD, Roberts LM, Silva V, Nessen EJ, Smith KK, Streed CG, Fetterman JL. Enhancing student understanding of cardiovascular disease burden in marginalized communities in the physiology classroom. Adv Physiol Educ. 2025 Mar 01; 49(1):230-239.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39809469; PMCID: PMC12522197; DOI: 10.1152/advan.00182.2024;
     
  9. Pinheiro A, Petty CA, Stephens CE, Cabrera K, Palanques-Tost E, Gower AC, Marano M, Leviss EM, Boberg MJ, Mahendran J, Bock PM, Fetterman JL, Naya FJ. The Dlk1-Dio3 noncoding RNA cluster coordinately regulates mitochondrial respiration and chromatin structure to establish proper cell state for muscle differentiation. Development. 2024 Dec 15; 151(24).View Related Profiles. PMID: 39612212
     
  10. Dennison Himmelfarb CR, Benowitz NL, Blank MD, Bhatnagar A, Chase PJ, Davis EM, Fetterman JL, Keller-Hamilton B, Ogungbe O, Page RL, Rezk-Hanna M, Robertson RM, Whitsel LP. Impact of Smokeless Oral Nicotine Products on Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for Policy, Prevention, and Treatment: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025 Jan 07; 151(1):e1-e21. PMID: 39624904; DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001293;
     
Showing 10 of 78 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 78 publications over 14 distinct years, with a maximum of 12 publications in 2024

YearPublications
20111
20121
20134
20142
20165
20172
20188
20193
20205
20217
202210
202310
202412
20258


New research suggests that exposure to social media can raise the risk of smoking tobacco

The Jerusalem Post 4/28/2024

Daily social media use makes teens more likely to start smoking

Earth.com 4/24/2024

Survey data indicating teen e-cig use is down may be flawed due to a loophole in flavor ban

Legal Reader 9/23/2020

Vaping Has Same Heart Disease Risk as Smoking

The Star Online 5/9/2020

E-cigarette Use Causes as Much Vascular Damage as Smoking cigarettes

Cardiovascular Business 4/30/2020

New Study Suggests Vaping Can Damage Our Heart The Same Way Smoking Does

Medical Daily 4/30/2020

Study: E-Cigarettes as Bad for Arteries as Regular Cigarettes

Newsmax 4/30/2020

Like Tobacco, Long-term E-Cigarettes Harm Vascular Function

TctMD 4/30/2020

E-Cigarette, Traditional Cigarette Use Result in Similar Vascular Damage

MD Magazine 4/30/2020

Vaping may damage the heart just as smoking does

Science News 4/29/2020

Vaping is just as bad as smoking cigarettes for increasing the risk of heart disease ‘because it stiffens blood vessels in the same way’

Daily Mail 4/29/2020

New Study Finds E-cigarette May Cause Similar Damage to the Arteries as Tobacco Cigarettes

Yahoo News 4/29/2020

Vaping is just as bad as smoking cigarettes for increasing the risk of heart disease 'because it stiffens blood vessels in the same way’

The Daily Mail 4/29/2020

E-cigarettes fail to improve vascular profile vs. combustible cigarettes

Healio 4/29/2020

E-Cigarettes as Bad for Arteries as Regular Smokes, Study Finds

Health Day 4/29/2020

Study: E-cigarettes damage vascular function much like traditional cigarettes

News Medical: 4/29/2020

E-cig flavorings may damage lining of blood vessels

Community Health 2/15/2019

‘Fine, I’ll just vape without the nicotine.’ Not so fast! E-cig flavorings may cause damage all by themselves

Dentistry IQ 1/24/2019

E-Cigarettes Aren't Any Safer Than Regular Cigarettes, Especially With Kids Around

Moms 11/29/2018

E-cigarette flavorings may damage blood vessels and heart

WHBL 7/11/2018

E-cigarette flavorings may damage blood vessel function

Healio 6/22/2018

E-Cigarette Flavorings May Harm Blood Vessels

MedPage Today 6/14/2018

2023 American Heart Association: Fellow of the American Heart Association
2020 Boston University School of Medicine: Outstanding Research Collaborator
2019 Boston University : Junior Faculty Mentoring Award
2010 University of Alabama at Birmingham: Center for Free Radical Biology Travel Award
2010 University of Alabama at Birmingham: Ireland Research Travel Award
2009 University of Alabama at Birmingham: Center for Free Radical Biology Travel Award
2009 University of Alabama in Birmingham: 2nd Place at the Vascular Biology and Hypertension Symposium
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Mitochondria
Mitochondrial DNA
Tobacco Smoking
E-cigarettes
Tobacco Regulatory Science
Vascular Endothelium

Dr. Fetterman is willing to mentor fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates interested in either mitochondrial genetics and physiology.

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Diversity Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
  • Work / Life Integration Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

75 E. Newton St Evans Building
Boston MA 02118
Google Map

617.358.7544
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