Daniel Cabral, Ph.D.

Dr. Cabral is an Assistant Professor at La Salle University, where he teaches Anatomy & Physiology and Mammalian Physiology. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Auburn University, followed by postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech and Rutgers University. His research examines 1) the relationship between physical activity and health, with a particular focus on the benefits of exercise for individuals with substance use disorders, 2) the relationship between health behaviors (such as exercise and nutrition) and overall health outcomes, and 3) the effects of exercise on cognitive function and cardiovascular health.

Dr. Cabral’s current work extends this research in several directions: exploring how exercise may benefit cognitive and cardiovascular function in individuals with risky substance use who have not yet developed a diagnosable disorder, and investigating how ultra-processed food consumption affects brain function and decision-making. He is also passionate about data science and regularly uses nationally representative public datasets to study these questions at a population level.

Areas of Expertise

• Health Sciences
• Exercise Science
• Addiction/Substance Use
• Neuroscience

Education

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Rutgers University, NJ
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Virginia Tech, VA
• Ph.D. Kinesiology, Auburn University, AL
• B.S. Exercise Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Teaching

• BIO 161- Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 305 – Mammalian Physiology

Publications

Cabral, D., Rego, M. L., Freitas-Lemos, R., & Buckman, J. F. (2026). Are Ultra-Processed Foods Associated with Substance Use Behaviors and Addiction Recovery Outcomes? A Narrative Review. Current Addiction Reports, 13(1), 23. doi.org/10.1007/s40429-026-00732-4

Cabral, D., Wang, D., Nock, N. L., Malagodi, B., Nusair, K., Nusair, G., … & Tavares, V. D. (2025). Effects of acute exercise on prefrontal cortex oxygenation in substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fNIRS studies. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 29, 100704. doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2025.100704

Cabral, D., Nist, A., Nusair, G., Fontes, R. M., Bovo, A. C. L., & Bickel, W. K. (2025). Running toward substance use recovery II: Associations between physical activity, recovery capital and hope. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 100684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2025.100684

Cabral, D., Nist, A., Fontes, R., Bruckner, L., Bovo, A., Bickel, W. (2025). Food for thought: The relationship between poor eating habits, delay discounting, and quality of life in substance use recovery. Eating Behaviors. 101972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.101972.

Cabral, D., Fontes, R., Tegge, A., Owen, M., Nguyen, J., Athamneh, L., Bickel, W (2024). Running toward substance use recovery: Does delay discounting mediate the relationship between physical activity and quality of life? Mental Health and Physical Activity, 100635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100635.

Cabral, D., Tegge, A., Dwyer, C., Quddos, F., Kaur, R., Nguyen, J., Athamneh, L., Bickel, W (2024) Associations between Delay Discounting and Unhealthy Behaviors in Substance Use Recovery. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111395.