James Tidball is a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine , University of California, Los Angeles , affiliated with the Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine . His research focuses on the interplay between the immune system and skeletal muscle in diseases like muscular dystrophy and age-related sarcopenia. Key Research Areas : Muscular dystrophy pathophysiology Immunomodulation of muscle regeneration Nitric oxide signaling in muscle repair Aging-induced muscle wasting His publications highlight groundbreaking work on Klotho gene therapy , macrophage polarization , and NF-κB signaling in muscle diseases. Recent studies examine immune cell-targeted interventions and aging-related epigenetic changes in myogenesis. Technical Approaches : Transgenic mouse models Phenotypic analysis of immune/muscle interactions Pharmaceutical intervention testing
Inger Olaug Ottestad serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Section for Clinical Nutrition at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Medicine. Her academic work centers on the critical intersection of nutrition and clinical care, with particular focus on cancer-related malnutrition and cachexia. She maintains an active research profile with numerous recent publications in high-impact journals. Dr. Ottestad's research interests span cancer nutrition, malnutrition and cachexia, diet and cancer relationships, clinical nutrition practice, and interprofessional collaborative learning. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on improving nutritional care for vulnerable patient populations, particularly those with cancer or elderly individuals experiencing malnutrition and frailty. She has contributed significantly to systematic reviews examining endpoints in cancer cachexia clinical trials, highlighting her leadership in establishing standardized assessment methods in this specialized field. Her recent publications reveal a clear research trajectory focused on nutritional assessment in clinical settings, particularly regarding cancer cachexia, malnutrition diagnosis barriers, and nutritional interventions for specific populations including the elderly and postpartum women with obesity. Her work frequently appears in journals such as Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, Clinical Nutrition Open Science, and Geroscience, indicating her strong standing in both oncology nutrition and geriatric nutrition research communities. As an educator, Dr. Ottestad is responsible for a 4-week hospital internship and serves as course responsible for ERN4030: Advanced Clinical Nutrition 1. She also lectures on multiple courses including Introduction to Clinical Nutrition, Physiology and Medical Biochemistry, Preventive Nutrition, and Master's level clinical nutrition courses. She is actively involved in the SamPraks working group, which develops interprofessional collaborative learning across multiple healthcare disciplines including nutrition, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, psychology, nursing, and theology. Dr. Ottestad maintains active research collaborations with Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, NTNU, University of Tromsø, and University of Bergen, demonstrating her integration within Norway's broader healthcare research ecosystem. Her work on the QuaNuT study examining nutritional care for malnourished patients across multiple university hospitals highlights her commitment to improving clinical practice through evidence-based research.
Shannon Reilly is an Assistant Professor of Metabolic Health and Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical School, Cornell University, where she leads research on molecular pathways regulating lipolytic adipocyte metabolism to develop treatments for metabolic diseases including obesity and cachexia. Her educational background: Undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and UMass Amherst Ph.D. in Public Health from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health combining wet lab research with epidemiology and biostatistics Postdoctoral fellowship in Alan Saltiel's laboratory Reilly's research demonstrates white adipocytes participate in thermogenesis through uncoupled energy expenditure, contrary to prior assumptions of passive energy storage. Her lab investigates catecholamine-activated signaling during lipolysis, focusing on STAT3 serine 727 phosphorylation mechanisms and STAT3-GPAT3 interaction domains to identify novel therapeutic targets. She emphasizes obesity as a complex disease requiring compassionate treatment approaches rather than societal blame. As a junior associate editor for the Journal of Lipid Research, Reilly contributes to scientific publishing while mentoring diverse trainees in her lab. Her work explores how modest increases in white adipose tissue energy expenditure could transform obesity therapeutics, bridging basic science with clinical applications.
Anne Jørgensen is a Research Fellow at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, specializing in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Her work bridges molecular biology and clinical applications across reproductive medicine and cancer biology. Research Interests : Endocrinology, metabolism, and molecular mechanisms in reproductive health and cancer models. Contact : Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 København N., anne.joergensen@sund.ku.dk Research Trends : Her recent publications focus on pancreatic islet function, vitamin D's role in fertility, temperature effects on cancer progression, and hormonal impacts on male reproductive and metabolic health.
Dr. Joan M Eckerson is a Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Pre-Health Professions within Creighton University's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research program centers on the intersection of nutrition, exercise physiology, and human performance, with particular expertise in dietary supplements like creatine. She investigates their effects on athletic performance, body composition, immune function, and therapeutic applications in clinical populations. Her research interests span: Exercise Nutrition : Efficacy of ergogenic aids (creatine, pre-workout supplements) on athletic outcomes Clinical Applications : Mitigating chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting and cardiotoxicity using creatine/creatinine Physiological Assessment : Developing and validating performance tests (e.g., 3-min rowing test for VO2max estimation) Dietary Interventions : Impact of meal composition on satiety, nutrient intake, and metabolic health Gender-Specific Physiology : Nutritional needs and supplement responses in female athletes across the lifespan. Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong trends in exercise oncology and the immunomodulatory effects of creatine . Her work demonstrates increasing focus on clinical applications beyond athletic performance, particularly using creatine/creatinine to counteract doxorubicin toxicity in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Methodologically, she employs diverse techniques from cellular models (myoblasts) to athlete testing and dietary intervention studies. Dr. Eckerson maintains an active role in scientific dissemination, regularly presenting findings at major conferences including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). She also engages in public science communication through radio appearances discussing dietary supplements.
Dr. Jalees Rehman serves as Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine. His leadership spans institutional administration and cutting-edge biomedical research focused on vascular injury mechanisms. His research expertise encompasses: Organ-specific blood vessel vulnerability (particularly lung vasculature in severe infections) Modulation of inflammatory responses to prevent tissue damage Stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration pathways Machine learning applications for gene regulation analysis in injury/repair processes Recent research trends demonstrate strong integration of computational approaches with vascular biology, particularly in understanding: COVID-19-related vascular complications Post-viral neurological disorders Cancer-associated vascular dysfunction No scientific awards are documented in available sources. His laboratory actively trains graduate students through the Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences (GEMS) program, particularly within the Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine concentration. Research is supported by NIH funding within the top-ranked Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine department. Dr. Rehman's laboratory focuses on vascular injury mechanisms in bacterial/viral infections, utilizing both experimental models and computational tools to identify therapeutic targets for tissue protection and regeneration.
Dr. Timothy Eubank is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology at West Virginia University School of Medicine. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at the WVU Health Sciences Center in the Department of Research & Graduate Education and is a Member of the WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs. Dr. Eubank's research focuses on the role of myeloid cells and mononuclear phagocytes in tumor growth and angiogenesis, with particular expertise in monocyte and macrophage HIF (hypoxia inducible factor) biology. His lab has made several groundbreaking discoveries, including being the first to report that GM-CSF stimulates tumor macrophages to overexpress soluble VEGFR-1, which sequesters tumor-produced VEGF, and the first to identify the disparate functions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in tumor-associated macrophages, discovering that HIF-2α can be anti-angiogenic. Analysis of Dr. Eubank's recent publications reveals a strong focus on tumor microenvironment, particularly examining macrophage subsets in breast and pancreatic cancers using advanced Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) imaging techniques. His work spans multiple disciplines including cancer biology, immunology, biomedical engineering, and molecular imaging, with a consistent theme of understanding how tumor hypoxia and immune cell interactions drive cancer progression. K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute Dr. Eubank's research is supported by multiple collaborations across WVU, working with colleagues in Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Radiology, and Surgery to develop novel molecular probes for in vivo measurement of tumor oxygenation, pH, and inorganic phosphate. His lab's work on understanding how different macrophage HIFs regulate chemotherapy success in breast cancer models has significant implications for improving cancer treatment efficacy. Dr. Eubank's lab occupies spaces 5612, 5608, 5607, and 5602 in the Health Sciences South building, where his team conducts research on the 'In vivo Multifunctional Magnetic Resonance Research' program, investigating the origin and role of macrophages that initiate and maintain treatment resistance in breast and pancreatic cancers.
Dr. Mamta Amrute is an Associate Professor and Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Physiology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), where she has led her research group since 2017. Her academic journey includes a PhD from MHH (2003-2006), postdoctoral research at MHH (2012-2016), and at the prestigious Medical Research Council-Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK (2008-2011). Her research program focuses on single-molecule biophysics of molecular motor proteins , with particular emphasis on understanding how mutations in cardiac myosin lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition affecting approximately 1 in 200 individuals worldwide. The lab employs advanced techniques including Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy, optical trapping, and zero-mode waveguides to investigate fundamental motor protein mechanisms. Analysis of recent publications reveals three major research trajectories: 1) Detailed characterization of cardiac and skeletal myosin isoforms at the single-molecule level, 2) Investigation of epigenetic regulation in muscle physiology and atrophy, and 3) Development of computational tools for biochemical research. This work has significant implications for understanding and potentially treating heart disease and muscle wasting conditions. Dr. Amrute's research is supported by multiple funding sources including the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Fritz Thyssen Foundation, and MHH's early career research grant program (HilF). She supervises a diverse team of doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, providing training in advanced biophysical techniques. The Amrute-Nayak Research Group maintains an extensive international collaboration network spanning institutions in the UK, USA, Japan, Italy, Sweden, and Australia, facilitating cross-disciplinary approaches to studying molecular motors and muscle diseases. Her work bridges fundamental biophysics with clinical applications in cardiology and muscle physiology.
Dr. Espen Spangenburg is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, where he also holds an appointment at the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute (ECDOI). Previously, he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology at the same institution (2015-2021), and held faculty positions at the University of Maryland (2006-2015) and UC Davis (2003-2006). Dr. Spangenburg's research program focuses on understanding the endocrine-based regulation of physiological and metabolic function of skeletal muscle. His lab employs an integrative experimental approach, using cell culture and animal models to define mechanisms that they then translate to human physiology. They have developed skeletal muscle-specific inducible BRCA1 and ER-alpha knock out mice and techniques to ablate these genes in cultured human myotubes. The lab has pioneered methods to measure force, mitochondrial function, deliver cDNA, and image organelles in single muscle fibers. His publication record includes over 120 peer-reviewed articles with an h-index of 52 and more than 8,221 total citations, including 19 papers cited over 100 times. His most recent work continues to explore skeletal muscle metabolism, mitochondrial function, and endocrine regulation, with publications in high-impact journals including Cell Metabolism, Diabetes, and Circulation. Selected Awards: 2014 Leda Amick Wilson UMD Mentor of the Year Award 2011 Best Paper Award UMD School of Public Health Research Interaction Day 2010 Virginia Tech HNFE Outstanding Alumnus Award 2008-2014 NIH Loan Repayment Grant Recipient Dr. Spangenburg serves on multiple editorial boards including American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology and Journal of Applied Physiology. He has been an active NIH study section member since 2015 and has received continuous research funding from NIH and the American Diabetes Association for his work on skeletal muscle function and metabolism. His lab maintains an active research program investigating the role of BRCA1 and estrogen receptor signaling in skeletal muscle function, with current projects examining how these pathways regulate mitochondrial function and protect against metabolic disease.
Christiano Alves, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh, specifically within the Division of Experimental Pathology. His research program integrates cutting-edge genome editing technologies with applied physiology to develop novel therapies for neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. Dr. Alves received his BS and PhD from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, completing his doctoral studies in 2017. He then completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked at the Joslin Diabetes Center on projects related to exercise and metabolism, and later at the Center for Genomic Medicine focusing on neuromuscular diseases and CRISPR technologies under the mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Kleinstiver. His research interests lie at the intersection of genome editing and applied physiology, with a specific focus on developing treatments for neurodegenerative conditions including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The Alves Lab leverages expertise in molecular metabolism and muscle biology to optimize genome editing approaches for therapeutic applications. Genome Editing and CRISPR Technologies Neuromuscular Diseases Neurodegenerative Disorders Metabolic Diseases Therapeutic Development Translational Medicine Dr. Alves has established an active research program with multiple publications in high-impact journals, focusing on the development and optimization of base editing technologies for treating genetic disorders. His work demonstrates a strong trajectory in advancing genome editing approaches toward clinical applications for severe diseases. As a recently appointed independent investigator, Dr. Alves is building a research team focused on pushing the boundaries of genome editing therapeutics. His lab combines physiological expertise with advanced gene editing techniques to address significant unmet medical needs in neurodegenerative conditions. The Alves Lab is actively seeking motivated students and postdoctoral researchers interested in genome editing, neuromuscular diseases, and translational research. Prospective trainees should have a strong foundation in molecular biology and an interest in developing innovative therapeutic approaches for severe diseases.
LUNG Hong Lok serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Hong Kong Baptist University's Faculty of Science, specializing in oncology-focused medicinal chemistry research targeting nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and related cancers. His core research domains include: Development of anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) inhibitors and NPC imaging agents Cancer immunology, cachexia, and metabolic pathways in NPC Tumor metastasis mechanisms of NPC Therapeutic target identification using normal/cancer organoid models Drug screening for NPC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma No scientific awards were documented in the provided source material. Details regarding graduate student supervision, research funding, or laboratory infrastructure were not disclosed in the available text.
Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Specializes in breast cancer research with focus on metastatic disease, immunotherapy, and nutritional impacts on outcomes. Affiliated with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Education: Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Northwestern University Research centers on breast cancer subtypes , particularly hormone receptor-positive and triple-negative metastatic disease. Investigates immune biomarkers for immunotherapy response, body composition impacts on survival, and nutritional interventions like vitamin D supplementation. Leads clinical trials exploring novel neoadjuvant combinations including immunotherapy and metabolic agents. Current leadership roles include Co-chair of Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (breast focus), advisor to SWOG Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and President of Equal Hope. Serves on NCCN-Pfizer metastatic breast cancer project and previously chaired Education Committee. Professional Affiliations: American Society of Clinical Oncology (1999-Present) Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) (2023-Present) Cancer Support Community (2013-Present) Principal Investigator for active clinical trials including SWOG 2206 (durvalumab + chemotherapy for MammaPrint Ultrahigh breast cancer). Industry collaborations include Merck & Co. and Pfizer for educational activities.
Richard L Lieber, PhD, MBA, is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neuroscience at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and is a Senior Research Career Scientist at the Edward Hines, Jr., VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. Dr. Lieber joined the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) in 2014 and oversees more than 200 researchers and over 150 research studies and clinical trials. Dr. Lieber earned his PhD in Biophysics from the University of California, Davis in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California, San Diego in 2013. His research focuses on the design and plasticity of skeletal muscle, with particular emphasis on muscle contracture in neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Dr. Lieber has published over 386 scientific articles spanning from fundamental research in journals like The Biophysical Journal and The Journal of Cell Biology to clinical applications in The Journal of Hand Surgery and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. His recent work demonstrates trends in human muscle physiology, rehabilitation assessment tools, and the development of innovative measurement techniques for muscle function across various patient populations including those with spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and cancer-related conditions. Paul B. Magnuson Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2023) Elsass Foundation Research Prize in Cerebral Palsy (2023) Kappa Delta Award, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (2013) Giovanni Borelli Award, American Society of Biomechanics (2007) Lifetime Achievement Award from American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (2021) Dr. Lieber manages a grant portfolio exceeding $152 million from major agencies including NIH, VA, DoD, and NIDILRR. He leads the implementation of the "Research Accelerator Program" at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, enabling translational research with nearly 200 non-research staff. He also designed the Biologics Lab, the only rehabilitation-setting lab of its kind in the world, bringing together biologists, physiologists, and molecular biologists to accelerate discoveries in rehabilitation science. As Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Lieber oversees all research endeavors throughout the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab system of care and has pioneered studies of human muscle during hand surgery and in conditions of muscle contracture. His laboratory has been continuously supported by the National Institutes of Health for over 40 years.
Professor Andreas Bergthaler leads the Bergthaler Lab at the Medical University of Vienna and serves as an Adjunct Principal Investigator at CeMM (Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences). His research bridges immunology , virology , and metabolism , focusing on systemic immunometabolism, pathogen surveillance, and transmissible cancers. Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna PhD, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich Postdoc, University of Geneva & Institute for Systems Biology His work explores: Multi-organ crosstalk in cachexia during chronic infections Pathogen surveillance in wastewater and air filters Immune evasion in transmissible cancers Viral persistence and CD8+ T cell dysfunction Recent publications highlight advances in: 2025: Gut - Metabolic targeting of intestinal inflammation 2025: EMBO Mol Med - EGFR signaling in colorectal cancer 2024: Nat Metab - Single-cell immunometabolism tools Recognized with: ERC Starting Grant Loffler-Frosch Prize (Society of Virology) He co-founded Hookipa Pharma, developing immunotherapies for infections and cancers, and collaborates across epidemiology , neurobiology , and public health .
Rajiv Sankaranarayanan is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Liverpool's Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science and a Consultant Cardiologist at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He also serves as a Research Scholar at the National Institute for Health Research in Liverpool. His educational background includes a PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology from the University of Manchester (2011-2014), an MBBS from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (1996-2001), and prestigious qualifications including Fellowship of the Heart Failure Association, FRCP from both the Royal College of Physicians and the European Society of Cardiology. Dr. Sankaranarayanan's research focuses on heart failure, particularly in areas of iron deficiency management, digital health applications, and the intersection of cardiovascular disease with conditions like sarcopenia and frailty. His work often involves clinical trials such as the IRONMAN study and community-based screening initiatives like the BEAT-HF tool. His extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding heart failure treatment, risk prediction models, and innovative approaches to cardiac care delivery through virtual wards and telehealth platforms. Fellowship of Heart Failure Association (FHFA) FRCP (Royal College of Physicians) FRCP (European Society Of Cardiology) NIHR Research Scholarship Dr. Sankaranarayanan has received significant research funding, including a British Heart Foundation grant (FS/11/15/28693) for his PhD work on cardiac physiology, European Society of Cardiology funding for cellular electrophysiology research, and NHSX funding for the End to End Digital Heart Failure Pathway project. His work with the Liverpool heart failure virtual ward model represents a major initiative in outpatient management of acute heart failure. He is actively involved with the British Cardiovascular Society, having participated in their Emerging Leadership Program from 2019-2022, and continues to contribute to advancing cardiovascular care through multiple collaborative research projects.
