Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Overview
Every aspect of life is fueled by metabolism, a constant cascade of chemical reactions that ensure we have the energy to survive and thrive. But sometimes things go wrong, depriving our cells of the energy and resources required for healthy function.
Scientists in VAI’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming explore the intricate mechanics of cellular metabolism and their implications for health and in disease. Using cutting-edge techniques, they investigate metabolism’s interaction with other critical systems, such as the immune system, and are revealing how environmental exposures and metabolic dysfunction contribute to complex diseases such as diabetes, autoimmunity, cancer and neurodegeneration. They’re also parsing the ripple effect that nutrition may have through the generations, exploring how our diets could lay the epigenetic foundations for the health of our descendants.
By developing a detailed understanding of metabolism and how it is impacted by nutrition, genetics and epigenetics, VAI scientists aim to develop metabolism-based therapies and interventions with the ultimate goal of improving human health.
Metabolism and Nutrition(MeNu) Program
Van Andel Institute’s Metabolism and Nutrition (MeNu) Program is a collaborative effort to understand the impact of diet and nutrition on human health at the molecular level, with a focus on the relationship between nutrition and inflammation in chronic diseases. Explore MeNu ➔
Our Faculty
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Cancer and Immunometabolism
Nick Burton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Maternal Effects on Metabolism and Host-Microbe Interactions
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Immunology, Epigenetics and Metabolism
Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Intergenerational Inheritance of Nutritional States
Evan Lien, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Diet, Metabolism and Cancer
Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming
Mitochondria and Metabolism
