Academics - Biology Faculty & Staff

My research focuses on understanding how obesity affects a part of the brain called the hypothalamus – the brain’s central regulator of food intake, metabolism, hormone release, and reproduction. Excess circulating nutrients in obese individuals cause dysfunction of the hypothalamic neurons that control food intake by interfering with normal protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).  When the protein folding load exceeds cellular capacity, an ER stress response is initiated by the cell via a defined set of signal transduction pathways.  In hypothalamic food intake neurons, ER stress interferes with the ability of these cells to respond appropriately to hormonal signals and control appetite.

Obesity is becoming ever-more prevalent in the United States, and it is linked to a constellation of other disorders, including infertility.  In mammals, reproductive function is regulated by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which controls pituitary gonadotropin release and subsequent gonadal function.  Dysfunction of GnRH-producing neurons leads to infertility in both males and females.  In my lab, we use ER stress-inducing chemicals to mimic obesity-induced ER stress in a cell culture model of GnRH neurons.  Currently, my students and I are working to characterize ER stress-induced changes in gene expression in GnRH neurons and the signaling pathways that mediate these changes.

Outside of the lab & classroom, I enjoy cooking, trying local beers and wine, hiking, and Zumba.  I also enjoy interacting with the Wabash community through attending theater, music, and athletic events.