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Metabolism and Nutritional Programming

Overview

Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming

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. Learn more here.

Our Faculty

Image of Russell Jones, Ph.D.

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

Affiliate Faculty Members

Brian Haab, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Cell Biology

Pancreatic Cancer Identification Using Glycans

Image of Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik

J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor, Department of Epigenetics

Epigenetic Origins of Heterogeneity and Disease

Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Epigenetics

Translational Biological Informatics

METABOLISM AND NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMMING STAFF

Margene Brewer, M.S.

Senior Administrative Assistant I, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming

Hyoungjoo Lee, Ph.D.

Director, MeNu Proteomics Platform

Ibukunoluwa Sodiya, B.S., M.S.

Core Associate I, MeNu Proteomics Platform

Kelsey Williams, Ph.D.

Research Program Manager, MeNu

MASS SPECTROMETRY CORE

Colt Capan, M.S.

Senior Research Technician, MeNu Proteomics Platform

Abigail Ellis, B.S.

Core Laboratory Manager, Mass Spectrometry Core

Christine Isaguirre, B.S.

Core Project Manager, Mass Spectrometry Core

Hyoungjoo Lee, Ph.D.

Director, MeNu Proteomics Platform

Ryan Sheldon, Ph.D.

Core Director and Research Scientist, Mass Spectrometry Core

Michael Vincent, Ph.D.

Core Bioinformatics Scientist, Mass Spectrometry Core

Recent Publications

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Our Impact

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  • 120 peer-reviewed papers published in 2023
  • 62 peer-reviewed papers published in high-impact journals in 2023
  • 55 clinical trials launched to date
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