Maria Balhara's primary research interests are in medicine and nutrition. Her current focus includes exploring interventions for reducing intake of ultra-processed foods to manage modifiable cardiovascular and endocrine health risk factors, investigating disordered eating behaviors among adolescents, studying molecular mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease with implications for personalized medicine approaches, and developing interventions to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable populations. Maria is an active member of several organisations dedicated to these fields of study, including The Nutrition Society, American Heart Association, and Endocrine Society. She also serves on the Pathway Core Committee at Broward College where she is a dual-enrollment student.