Top of Page
Skip main navigation

Maria Vera-Nunez, M.D., MSBI, DABOIM, IFMCP

Associate Professor, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University

Dr. Maria Vera is a physician-scientist at the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine and Faculty at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University. She is a Diplomate of the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, and is a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner who recently earned her Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics degree at NSU. She has worked in research and clinical care for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other multisystem complex conditions since 2008. She uses an integrative/functional medicine approach in the evaluation and management of patients with chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction (ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, mycotoxin exposure, dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome, food sensitivities, chronic viral reactivation, etc.).

Dr. Vera's research interest is focused on the role of immunomodulators and chronic inflammation pathways to recognize therapeutic targets and management options for complex chronic conditions. She is also interested in the development of tools and application of information technology to improve the education and care of patients with chronic conditions. She has received six President’s Faculty Research Development Grants (PFRDG) since 2016, four of which are currently in progress. Dr. Vera is a lifelong learner and continues attending conferences and workshops to gain more tools for the treatment of her patients.

 

Return to Our Team

 

  • President’s Faculty and Development  Grants Award, Nova Southeastern University:
    Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Detecting Mycotoxin Subgroup Goal
    To build on and explore whether exposure to mycotoxins is detectable in patients with ME/CFS. The study will assess if mycotoxin exposure results in more severe symptoms in ME/CFS patients and evaluate if new treatment protocols can improve the quality of life of these severely ill patients.

  • Next-generation Sequencing to Identify Infectious Pathogenesis of ME/CFS
    To identify infectious agents associated with onset/continuation of symptoms in ME/CFS. We will use metagenomic testing to analyze the RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in cases with and without post-infectious onset of ME/CFS, and healthy controls.

  • Immune reactivity to Gluten in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
    This study will evaluate the presence of markers of immune reactivity against gluten in patients with the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and to determine whether gluten sensitivity adversely affects RA symptom severity.

  • Metabolic Abnormalities, Antioxidant Capacity and Toxic Exposures in ME/CFS
    The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the correlation between biomarkers of metabolic status, oxidative stress and environmental exposures with symptoms severity in the patients with ME/CFS

  • The Effect of Self-Management Group Program on Health Status, Fatigue Severity and Self-Efficacy in Patients with ME/CFS

  • NextGen - RedCap Integration Project - Creation of Clinical Research Database at the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine

Peer-Review Journal Publications

Diabetes Treatment in the Elderly: Incorporating Geriatrics, Technology, and Functional Medicine

Valencia, W.M., Botros, D., Vera-Nunez, M., & Dang, S.

 

Poor Sleep Quality is Associated with Greater Circulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Severity and Frequency of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) Symptoms in Women

Milrad, S.F., Hall, D.L., Jutagir, D.R., Lattie, E.G., Ironson, G.H., Wohlgemuth, W., Vera Nunez, M., Garcia, L, Czaja, S.J., Perdomo, D.M., Fletcher, M.A., Klimas, N., & Antoni, M.H.

 

Abstract & Poster Presented In International Meetings

  • Vera Nunez, M. “Low dose naltrexone in a case with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and isolated liver enzyme elevation”. 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Vera Nunez, M., Chen, S., Klimas, N.G. “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients’ attitudes towards the use of web-based, self-report instruments for clinical evaluation”. 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Altmann, S., Monga, A., Dionisio, J., Chen, S., Vera Nunez, M. “Immunomodulatory effects of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)”. 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Monga, A., Altman, S., Vera Nunez, M. “Student and Faculty Knowledge and Perception about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)”. 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Melanie Perez, Hytham Rashid, Kumar Agarwal, Kelly Gaunt, Kristina Gemayel, Syed Shehzad Ali, Abhaya Moturu, Maria Cash, Jacqueline Baikovitz, Ana Del Alamo, Irma Rey, Maria VeraNunez, Nancy Klimas, Lubov Nathanson. “ME/CFS Genes Study: Identifying SNPs Frequencies in Genetic Data of De-Identified ME/CFS Patients” 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Kelly Gaunt, Kristina Gemayel, Ana Del Alamo, Melanie Perez, Irma Rey, Lubov Nathanson, Maria Vera-Nunez, Nancy Klimas. “ME/CFS Genes Study: Using Social Media as a Participant Recruitment Tool for a De-Identified Subject Population Genetic Database”. 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Kristina Gemayel, Kelly Gaunt, Ana Del Alamo, Melanie Perez, Irma Rey, Lubov Nathanson, Maria Vera-Nunez, Nancy Klimas. “Symptomology in Patients Enrolled in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Gene Study” 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. Fort Lauderdale 2016. www.iacfsme.org
  • Kelly Hilton, Irina Rosenfeld, Maria Vera Nunez, Nancy Klimas. “Thymic carcinoid syndrome: The unlikely origin of catabolic hypogammaglobulinemia”. Nova Southeastern University – CEME poster competition.
  • Harvey, JM, Hwang M, Vashsishtha S, Barnes Z, Vera MA, Klimas NG, Fletcher MA. “Sexhormone mediation of Immune function as a driver of ME/CFS Severity” 11th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. 2014. www.iacfsme.org 
  • Vera MA, Garcia L., Valencia, WM, Barnes Z., Fletcher MA, Klimas NG. “Abnormal Cytokine Levels in patients with CFS regardless of metabolic syndrome”. 10th International IACFS/ME conference. Ottawa, Ontario Canada. September 2011
  • Vera MA, Rey I, Garcia L, Fletcher MA, Klimas NG. “Vitamin D and IL 10 in Chronic fatigue Syndrome”. 10th International IACFS/ME conference. Ontario, Canada. September 2011
  • Vera MA. Mysterious Paralysis: A case of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis. Abstract accepted for display at FL Chapter ACP Annual Meeting 2010 Poster Competition. 
  • Vera MA, Fletcher MA, Cuba C, Garcia L, Klimas NG. “Immune and Viral Response to Isoprinosine in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. 9th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. 2009. www.iacfsme.org 
  • Vera MA. “Immune and Viral Response to Isoprinosine in Women with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. Women’s Health Research Day 2009. Institute for Women’s Health, University of Miami
  • Hone N, Garcia L, Vera MA, Chediak N, Klimas NG. “Sleep patterns in CFS patients and the Immunomodulatory effects of Xyrem in Patients with Alpha Intrusion”. 9th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference. 2009. www.iacfsme.org
Return to top of page