Josh Owens

Josh Owens is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Lipscomb University, focusing on fat metabolism's role in cancer exacerbation and discovering novel therapeutic molecules. He leads a lab funded by the Christian Scholars’ Foundation’s Junior Faculty Grant (2022). His research integrates microbiome studies, immunology, and metabolic pathways. Key projects include identifying the obesogenic microbial metabolite delta-valerobetaine and exploring probiotics like Lactococcus lactis for health benefits.

Educational Background:

• B.S. in Molecular Biology, Lipscomb University (2016)
• PhD in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, Emory University (2021)

Research Interests:

• Cancer immunology and metabolic pathways
• Microbiome-driven modulation of host immunity/metabolism
• Probiotics as therapeutic agents for obesity and cancer
• Epithelial repair mechanisms in gastrointestinal disorders
• Maternal dietary influences on offspring health

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes microbiome interactions (probiotics’ antitumor effects, TLR2 signaling pathways), metabolic consequences of diets (butyrate supplementation, western-style diet impacts), and SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiling. Themes include translational applications and mechanistic insights into disease pathogenesis.

Awards:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA F31 Award (2021)

Grants & Advising:

• Led Christian Scholars’ Foundation grant (2022)
• Focuses on student mentorship for graduate/professional schools

Labs/Teams: Active in Lipscomb’s Biology department, collaborating on projects linking microbiome research to clinical outcomes in metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases.