The University of Toledo

HIGHLIGHTED RESEARCH

Grants

Dr. Jennifer Hill's new NIH R21 grant entitled “Inflammatory triggers of polycystic ovarian syndrome” received funding by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) (April 2012-March 2014). The aim of this project is to determine whether inflammation precedes ovarian dysfunction in a potential mouse model of PCOS.

Dr. Sonia Najjar's NIH R01 grant entitled “CEACAM1 and insulin action” was renewed for the third time by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (August 2010-April 2015). The major goal of this project is to characterize the causative role for CEACAM1-dependent insulin clearance pathways in diet-induced insulin resistance and obesity.

Dr. Sonia Najjar's new NIH R01 grant entitled "CEACAM 1: A Link between Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases" received funding by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (January 2012-December 2016). The major goal of this project is to identify a role for CEACAM1 in linking insulin resistance to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Dr. Guillermo Vazquez's newNIH R01 grant entitled "Role of TRPC3 channels in molecular and cellular aspects of atherogenesis" has received funding by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (December 2011-November 2015). Dr. Vazquez’s group has recently pioneered the demonstration that in coronary artery endothelium, TRPC3 is an obligatory component of the signaling regulating expression of cell adhesion molecules, monocyte recruitment to the subintima and macrophage survival and apoptosis, all critical events in early and advanced stages of atherosclerotic lesion development. The proposal further investigates the role of TRPC3 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.


Highlighted Publications 

Dr. Sonia Najjar's paper Development of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis in Insulin Resistant L-SACC1 Mice received an Editorial Review by: Rexford S. Ahima: Gastroenterology, 135:1860-1862

Dr. Sonia Najjar's paper Increased metabolic rate and insulin sensitivity in male mice lacking the carcino-embryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 2 has been selected to be featured 'Up front' by Diabetologia to merit special attention for 2012. The paper is highlighted on the Editor website.


Highlighted Abstracts
 
Dr. Edith Mensah-Osman abstract "Menin-A new central player in metabolic & energy homeostasis" won the first place in the poster contest at the Michigan Neurological Meeting on July 24-26, 2009 in Bellaire, Michigan and chosen as a hot-topic item by the media at the Neuroscience Meeting on October 17-21, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Marcia F. McInerney abstract entitled "The Interplay between Macrophages and Adipocytes in Inflammation Associated with Diet-induced Obesity and Diabetes." has been selected for Poster Presentation at the 12^th International Immunology of Diabetes Society Conference, in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on June 15^th-19th, 2012.

Dr. Jennifer Hill

Leptin and Insulin Signaling in POMC Neurons Mediates Metabolic and Reproductive Homeostasis in male Rodents. Authors: Faulkner LD, Dowling AR, Stuart RC, Nillni EA, Hill JW.  Poster, Endocrine Society annual meeting June 2013

Leptin and Insulin Signaling in POMC Neurons Mediates Metabolic and Reproductive Homeostasis in male Rodents. Authors: Faulkner LD, Dowling AR, Stuart RC, Nillni EA, Hill JW.  Poster, Keystone Conference on Neuronal Control of Appetite, Metabolism and Weight, March 2013

Effects of Genetic Background on Insulin Resistance and Fertility in a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Mouse Model. Abigail Rebecca Dowling, Laura Beth Nedorezov, Joseph Scott Marino, XiaoLiang Qiu, Jennifer Wooten Hill. Symposium: The developmental origins of disease, University of Michigan October 2012

Simultaneous Insulin and Leptin Signaling in POMC Neurons Promotes Fertility and Metabolic Homeostasis in Male Rodents. Authors: Latrice D Faulkner, Abigail R Dowling, Jennifer W Hill.  Poster, Endocrine Society 2012 annual meeting

Insulin and Leptin Action on Kiss1 Neurons and the Regulation of Puberty and Reproduction. Authors: Xiaoliang Qiu, Abigail Dowling, Joseph Marino, Latrice Faulkner, Laura Nedorezov, Jennifer Hill. Poster, Endocrine Society 2012 annual meeting

Effects of Genetic Background on Insulin Resistance and Fertility in a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Mouse Model. Abigail Rebecca Dowling, Laura Beth Nedorezov, Joseph Scott Marino, XiaoLiang Qiu, Jennifer Wooten Hill. Poster, Endocrine Society 2012 annual meeting

Insulin Action in Kiss1 Neurons and the Regulation of Puberty and Reproduction, 39^th Annual Pharmacology Research Colloquium, University of Michigan 2011 Oral Presentation

Leptin Receptors in POMC Neurons Regulate Cholesterol Metabolism.  Authors: JS Marino, AR Dowling, X Qiu, L Nedorezov, LFC Mueller, JW Hill POSTER     : Experimental Biology annual meeting, April 2012

Insulin Action in Kiss1 Neurons and the Regulation of Puberty and Reproduction  Authors: X Qiu, AR Dowling, JS Marino, LB Nedorezov, JW Hill   POSTER, Endocrine Society annual meeting June 2011

Apolipoprotein A-1 Mimetic Treatment of Ovarian Dysfunction in Two Mouse Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome  Authors: LB Nedorezov, AR Dowling, JS Marino, X Qiu, JW Hill  POSTER Endocrine Society annual meeting June 2011

Evidence of an Inflammatory State in a Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome  Authors: JS Marino, AR Dowling, X Qiu, L Nedorezov, LFC Mueller, JW Hill POSTER Endocrine Society annual meeting June 2011,

Apolipoprotein A-1 Mimetic Treatment of Ovarian Dysfunction in Two Mouse Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome  Authors: LB Nedorezov, AR Dowling, JS Marino, X Qiu, JW Hill  POSTER National Conference on Undergraduate Research March 2011

Evidence of an Inflammatory State in a Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome  Authors: JS Marino, AR Dowling, X Qiu, L Nedorezov, LFC Mueller, JW Hill POSTER Experimental Biology annual meeting, April 2011

Evidence of an Inflammatory State in a Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Authors: LB Nedorezov, AR Dowling, JS Marino, X Qiu, JW Hill  POSTER Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center 2011 Symposium Jan 2011

ApoA-1 Mimetic Treatment of Ovarian Dysfunction In ob Mice. Poster, Society for the Study of Reproduction, Milwaukee August 2010

Sexual Dimorphism in the Diabetic Phenotype of CEACAM2 Knockout Mice  Authors: J Marino; L Fedorova; J Hill, Poster. Keystone Symposium on Diabetes April, 2010

Reproductive Complications of Obesity and Insulin Resistance: Mechanisms of Ovarian Dysfunction. Poster, UT College of Medicine Research Day, March 2010 

The reproductive effect of simulaneous deletion of insulin and leptin receptors in POMC neurons. Poster, Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago 2009

Simultaneous Deletion of Insulin and Leptin Signaling In POMC neurons. Poster, Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington DC 2008

Disruption of PI3K signaling in POMC neurons. Poster, Keystone Symposium, Keystone CO, January 2007

Simulaneous deletion of insulin and leptin receptors in POMC neurons. Poster, Keystone Symposium, Keystone CO, January 2006


Highlighted Presentations

Dr. Beata Lecka-Czernik was invited to present her work to the ADA Order of the Amaranth’s National Assembly on June 24, 2012 in Ontario, Canada.


Media 

Dr. Beata Lecka-Czernik is recognized for her research in UT Discovers April 2013. Dr. Lecka-Czernik mentioned in the article that she owes much of her research discoveries to her association with other researchers in CeDER whose aim is to track diabetes from different directions and perspectives.

Dr. Jennifer Hill was featured in the UT news on April 7, 2010 for her study on how the brain controls weight gain and regulates blood glucose levels. Dr. Hill's study appears in the April 7th issue of Cell Metabolism.