Background

Dr. Weaver-Toedtman received a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, a BS and MS in Nursing from Columbia University, and a PhD in Nursing Research/Theory Development from New York University. She performed her dissertation research at the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, with a focus on brain-gut axis dysregulation in patients with chronic abdominal pain. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, in the Interdisciplinary Training Program in Biobehavioral Pain Research. She was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science at the University of Maryland, School of Nursing from 2019-2022, prior to joining the University of South Carolina in 2022. 

Teaching

NURS 791 - Seminar in Clinical Nursing Research

Research

Dr. Weaver-Toedtman’s research investigates biopsychosocial influences on the brain-gut connection in individuals with chronic abdominal pain and other chronic conditions. She is interested in how the intersection of these factors influences health outcomes, and incorporates omics and other discovery methodologies in these research endeavors. 

• Dr. Weaver-Toedtman’s lab

Dissemination

Dr. Weaver-Toedtman has presented her research at national and international meetings, some of which include Digestive Disease Week, Eastern Nursing Research Society, USASP Annual Scientific Meeting, NeuroGASTRO, Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility International Scientific Meeting, and Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science.

Professional Service

Dr. Weaver-Toedtman is a member of the following professional organizations:

• American Gastroenterological Association
• American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
• Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• Southern Nursing Research Society
• United States Association for the Study of Pain
• Yoga Alliance

Professional Practice

Dr. Weaver-Toedtman practiced as an RN in the Emergency Department and Endoscopy Department. She is certified as an Acute Care and Adult Nurse Practitioner, with clinical experience in Cardiology and Gastroenterology.

Research Studies (selected)

USC Office of the Vice President for Research, ASPIRE: $15,000 total award. Research grant, "Accelerated biological aging among sexual and gender minority groups with disorders of gut-brain interaction." July 2024 - September 2025. Role - Principal Investigator. 

Advancing Chronic Care Outcomes through Research and Innovation (ACORN) Center: $20,000 total award, Research grant, “Biopsychosocial factors among women with and without chronic pelvic pain: A pilot study of the vaginal microbiome, ovarian hormones, and interpersonal relationships.” July 2023-December 2024. Role - Principal Investigator.

Columbia University-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association: $5,000 total award. Research grant, “Associations of a 6-week yoga program with DNA methylation patterns in participants with IBS.” July 2021 - June 2022. Role - Principal Investigator.

National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health: $64,017 total award. University of Maryland School of Nursing, P30 OASIS Center, Pilot Project. “Impact of a yoga intervention on chronic abdominal pain, and associations with the metagenome and metabolome in participants with IBS.” February 2020 - May 2021. Role - Principal Investigator.

The Rockefeller University: $24,610 total award. Heilbrunn Nurse Scholar “Exploratory investigation of sex hormones, leptin, and BDNF in modulating the BGA of patients with IBS.” July 2016 - July 2018. Role - Principal Investigator.

Publications (selected)

Hong, H., Mocci, E., Kamp, K., Zhu, S., Cain, K. C., Burr, R. L., Perry, J. A., Heitkemper, M. M., Weaver-Toedtman, K. R., & Dorsey, S. G. (2024). Genetic variations in TrkB.T1 isoform and their association with somatic and psychological symptoms in individuals with IBS. The Journal of Pain, 104634. Advance online publication.

Weaver-Toedtman, K. R., Walch, M., Kiracofe, L., Bedingfield, A., Cook, L., Resnick, B., Renn, C. L., & Dorsey, S. G. (2023) Feasibility and acceptability of an online yoga study among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 33(2023), Article 8. doi:10.17761/2023-D-22-00015

Weaver, K. R., Griffioen, M. A., Klinedinst, N. J., Galik, E., Duarte, A. C., Colloca, L., Resnick, B., Dorsey, S. G. & Renn, C. L. (2022) Quantitative sensory testing across chronic pain conditions and use in special populations. Frontiers in Pain Research. 2:779068. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2021.779068 

Weaver, K. R., Mustapic, M., Kapogiannis, D., & Henderson, W. A. (2022). Neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicles in individuals with IBS; A pilot study of COMT and BDNF. Neurogastroenterology & Motility. Jan; 34(1): e14257. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14257

Mun, C. J., Weaver, K. R., Hunt, C. A., Owens, M. A., Phillips, J., Lerman, S. F., Buenaver, L. F., Colloca, L., Tennen, H., Haythornthwaite, J. A., Finan, P. H. & Smith, M. T. (2021). Pain expectancy and positive affect mediate the day-to-day association between objectively measured sleep and pain severity among women with temporomandibular disorder. The Journal of Pain. Nov 25: S1526-5900 (21) 00368-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.11.003 

Weaver, K. R., Boulineaux, C. M., Robinson, J. M., Butler, K., Heitkemper, M. M., & Henderson, W. A. (2021). Sex hormones, BDNF, leptin, and TGF-β1 in females with IBS; A pilot investigation. Biological Research For Nursing, 23(2), 231-237. doi:10.1177/1099800420948589

Weaver, K. R., Melkus, G. D., Fletcher, J. & Henderson, W. A. (2020). Relevance of sex and subtype in patients with IBS: An exploratory study of gene expression. Biological Research For Nursing, 22(1), 13-23. doi:10.1177/1099800419889189

Sharaiha, R. Z., Novikov, A., Weaver, K., Marfatia, P., Buscaglia, J. M., DiMaio, C. J., Diehl, D., Gabr, M. M., Gaidhane, M., Siddiqui, A., & Kahaleh, M. (2019). Fully covered self-expanding metal stents for refractory pancreatic duct strictures in symptomatic chronic pancreatitis, US experience. Endoscopy International Open, 7(11), E1419-E1423. doi: 10.1055/a-0858-2169

Kamp, K., Weaver, K. R., Sherwin, L.B., Barney, P., Hwang, S-K, Wang, P-L, Burr, R., Cain, K., & Heitkemper, M.M. (2019). Effects of a comprehensive self-management intervention on extraintestinal symptoms among patients with IBS. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 126, 109821. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109821

Weaver, K. R., Melkus, G. D., Fletcher, J. & Henderson, W. A. (2018).  Serum proteomics in African American females with IBS: An exploratory study.  Nursing Research, 67, 261-267. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000281  

Weaver, K. R., Melkus, G. D., Fletcher, J. & Henderson, W. A. (2018).  Perceived stress, its physiological correlates, and quality of life, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.  Biological Research For Nursing, 20, 312-320. doi:10.1177/1099800418756733.

Weaver, K. R., Melkus, G. D. & Henderson, W. A. (2017).  Irritable bowel syndrome: A review.  American Journal of Nursing, 117, 48-55. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000520253.57459.01.

Tyberg, A., Nieto, J., Salgado, S., Weaver, K., Kedia, P., Sharaiha, R. Z., Gaidhane, M. & Kahaleh, M. (2017).  Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) - directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or EUS: Mid-term analysis of an emerging procedure.  Clinical Endoscopy, 50, 185-190. doi: 10.5946/ce.2016.030

Weaver, K. R., Sherwin, L. B., Walitt, B., Melkus, G. D. & Henderson, W. A. (2016).  Neuroimaging the brain-gut axis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.  World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 7, 320-33. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v7.i2.320

Sharaiha, R. Z., Sethi, A., Weaver, K. R., Gonda, T. A., Shah, R. J., Fukami, N., Kedia, P., Kumta, N. A., Clavo, C. M., Saunders, M. D., Cerecedo-Rodriguez, J., Barojas, P. F., Widmer, J. L., Gaidhane, M., Brugge, W. R. & Kahaleh, M. (2015).  Impact of radiofrequency ablation on malignant biliary strictures: Results of a collaborative registry.  Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 60, 2164-2169. doi: 10.1007/s10620-015-3558-3

Fu, M. R., Axelrod, D., Ryan, C., Weaver, K., Qiu, J. M., Guth, A. A., Kleinmen, R., Palamar, J., Cleland, C. M. & Scagliola, J. (2015).  Comorbidities and quality of life among breast cancer survivors: A prospective study.  Journal of Personalized Medicine, 5, 229-242. doi: 10.3390/jpm5030229