Nutritional Sciences

Scott Going is an expert in models and methods for assessment of changes in body composition during growth, and with aging, and is currently investigating the effects of chronic exercise versus hormone replacement therapy on bone, soft tissue composition and muscle strength in postmenopausal women, as well as the role of exercise in obesity prevention in children.

Melanie Hingle's work focuses on understanding determinants of energy balance behaviors (i.e. how and why behaviors are initiated and sustained), and identifying contributors to the success of interventions (i.e. when, where, and how interventions should be delivered) are critical steps toward developing programs that effectively change behavior, thereby mitigating unhealthy weight gain and promoting optimal health. Current projects include: Determinants of metabolic risk, and amelioration of risk, in pediatric cancer survivors, Guided imagery intervention delivered via a mobile software application to increase healthy eating and physical activity in weight-concerned women smokers, and Family-focused diabetes prevention program delivered in partnership with the YMCA.

Kirsten Limesand's research program has its foundation in radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction; mechanisms of damage, clinical prevention measures, and restoration therapies. They utilize a number of techniques including: genetically engineered mouse models, real-time RT/PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, primary cultures, siRNA transfections, and procedures to quantitate salivary gland physiology and integrate this information in order to understand the complete system.

We use integrative omics, physiological human imaging and human iPSC-based microphysiological systems to elucidate the science of nutrient-responsive sensing and signaling processes with the aim of rationally applying this knowledge in development of effective personalized interventions. My topical expertise is in age-related macular degeneration and nutrition. My research teams have a central interest in mitochondrial physiology as a target system.

Our laboratory focuses on the role and regulation of sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes in the pathobiology of inflammation. Specifically, our interests are in gastrointestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease. We employ both in vitro and in vivo model systems to examine the role of dietary modulation on sphingolipid metabolism and inflammation. In our pursuits, we utilize cell lines, intestinal organoids, in vivo models, and biobanked samples from patients with IBD and colorectal cancer to determine the effects of high fat diets and dietary fatty acids on sphingolipid metabolism and intestinal pathobiology. Moreover, we utilize unbiased “Omics” approaches in our research efforts, specifically lipidomics, proteomics and phospho-proteomics, in order to define novel mechanisms, interventions, therapeutic targets and biomarkers for intestinal pathobiologies.