Alumni

Alumni Alumni, we would be happy to hear from you. Please send news and updates to Mani Nakamura

Visiting Scholars

Michio Miyashita, MD, PhD

Title: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Email: mmiyashi@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Sabbatical visit: From September 2008 to February 2010
Collaborative publication:

  1. Koo HY, Miyashita M, Cho BHS & Nakamura MT (2009). Replacing dietary glucose with fructose increases ChREBP activity and SREBP-1 protein in rat liver nucleus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 390: 285-289

Michael Aviram, ScD

Title: * Bernice R. & Joseph Tanenbaum Professor and Head of Lipid Research Laboratory , Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel * George A. Miller Visiting Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Email: aviram@tx.technion.ac.il
Sabbatical visit: From October 2008 to September 2009
Collaborative publication:

  1. Rosenblat M, Volkova N, Roqueta-Rivera M, Nakamura MT & Aviram M (2010). Increased macrophage cholesterol biosynthesis and decreased cellular paraoxonase 2 (PON2) expression in delta-6-Desaturase knockout (6-DS KO) mice: beneficial effects of arachidonic acid. Atherosclerosis 210:414-421

Jeon Ro Park, PhD

Title: Professor, Department of Food and Nutrition, Sunchon University, Korea
Email: jrpark@web.sanchon.ac.kr
Sabbatical visit: From January to December 2005
Collaborative publication:

  1. Cho B H, Park J-R, Nakamura MT, Odintsov BM, Wallig MA & Chung B-H (2010). Synthetic dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes assimilating into high-density lipoprotein promote regression of atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Exp Biol Med 235:1194-1203

Yuki Kuromori, MD

Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Email: yk_kuro@mac.com
Research project : Regulation of delta-6 desaturase in essential fat deficiency
Sabbatical visit: From July 2003 to February 2004

Taka Nara, Mani Nakamura, *Yuki Kuromori*, Yue Li, H-Y Koo, Yewon Cheon and Chad Stroud, September 2003

Tomoo Okada, MD, PhD

Title: Professor of Pediatrics, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Email: tomokada@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Sabbatical visit: From May to August 2002

Yue Li, *Tomoo Okada*, Mani Nakamura, Weisong He and Yewon Cheon, August 2002

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Postdoctoral Fellow

Takayuki Nara, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate 2001-2005

Education: PhD, Molecular Genetics, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, 2001
Current Position: Research Scientist, Yukijirushi LLC, Japan
Email: takayuki.nara@gmail.com
Publications during his training with our group:

  1. Nara TY, He WS, Tang C, Clarke SD & Nakamura MT (2002). The E-box like sterol-regulatory element mediates suppression of the human delta-6 desaturase gene by highly unsaturated fatty acids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 296:111-117
  2. Nakamura MT & Nara TY (2002). Gene regulation of mammalian desaturases. Biochem Soc Trans 30:1076-1079
  3. He WS, Nara TY & Nakamura MT (2002). Delayed induction of delta-6 and delta-5 desaturases by a peroxisome proliferator. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 299:832-838
  4. Nakamura MT & Nara TY (2003). Essential fatty acid synthesis and its regulation in mammals. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 68:145-150
  5. Nakamura MT & Nara TY (2004). Structure, function and dietary regulation of delta-6, delta-5 and delta-9 desaturases. Annu Rev Nutr 24:345-376 *[PDF] *
  6. Nakamura MT, Cheon Y, Li Y & Nara TY (2004). Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression by fatty acids. Lipids 39:1077-1083
  7. Cheon Y, Nara TY, Band MR, Beever JE, Wallig MA & Nakamura MT. Induction of overlapping genes by fasting and a peroxisome proliferator in pigs: Evidence of functional PPAR-alpha in non-proliferating species. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 288:R1525-35 (2005)
  8. Li Y, Nara TY & Nakamura MT (2005). Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha is required for feedback regulation of highly unsaturated fatty acid synthesis. J Lipid Res 46:2432-2440
  9. Zaripheh S, Nara TY, Nakamura MT & Erdman JW, Jr (2006). Dietary lycopene downregulates carotenoid 15,15?-monooxygenase and PPAR-gamma in selected rat tissues. J Nutr 136:932-8
  10. Koo HY, Wallig MA, Chung BH, Nara TY, Cho BH, Nakamura MT. Dietary fructose induces a wide range of genes with distinct shift in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in fed and fasted rat liver. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1782: 341-8, 2008
  11. Stroud CK, Nara TY, Roqueta-Rivera M, Radlowski EC, Lawrence P, Zhang Y, Cho BH, Segre M, Hess RA, Brenna JT, Haschek WM, Nakamura MT (2009)*.* Disruption of FADS2 gene in mice impairs male reproduction and causes dermal and intestinal ulceration. J Lipid Res 50:1870-1880

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Graduate Students

Manuel Roqueta, PhD FSHN, 2010

Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate at Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Orlando, Florida, mentor Timothy Osborne
Email: manuelroq@gmail.com
Thesis title: The role of dietary arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in preventing highly unsaturated fatty acid deficiency symptoms
Awards:

  • Outstanding PhD Student Award, FSHN, 2010
  • Finalist, American Society for Nutrition Graduate Student Research Competition, 2008
  • Ed Parkins Lipid Research Award, FSHN 2008
  • CONACYT Fellowship 2005-2008
  • Holmes Merit Award in Nutrition, FSHN 2007

Publications:

  1. Stroud CK, Nara TY, Roqueta-Rivera M, Radlowski EC, Lawrence P, Zhang Y, Cho BH, Segre M, Hess RA, Brenna JT, Haschek WM, Nakamura MT (2009)*.* Disruption of FADS2 gene in mice impairs male reproduction and causes dermal and intestinal ulceration. J Lipid Res 50:1870-1880
  2. Roqueta-Rivera M, Stroud CK, Haschek WM, Akare SJ, Segre M, Brush RS, Agbaga M-P, Anderson RE, Hess RA & Nakamura M*T *(2010)*.* Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation fully restores fertility and spermatogenesis in male delta-6 desaturase knockout mice. J Lipid Res 51: 360-367
  3. Rosenblat M, Volkova N, Roqueta-Rivera M, Nakamura MT & Aviram M (2010). Increased macrophage cholesterol biosynthesis and decreased cellular paraoxonase 2 (PON2) expression in delta-6-Desaturase knockout (6-DS KO) mice: beneficial effects of arachidonic acid. Atherosclerosis 210:414-421
  4. Roqueta-Rivera M, Abbott TL, Sivaguru M, Hess RA & Nakamura MT (2011). Deficiency in the omega-3 fatty acid pathway results in failure of acrosome biogenesis in mice. Biol Reprod 85:721-732

Barbara Yudell , PhD Nutritional Sciences, 2009

First position: Research Specialist, Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, mentor Kenneth Wilund
URL: Miss Metabolism
Thesis title: INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF MACRONUTRIENTS ON OBESITY AND METABOLIC SYNDROME DEVELOPMENT
Awards:

  • Nutritional Sciences James Robinson Impact Award, 2008
  • Jonathan Baldwin Turner Graduate Fellowship, 2004-2006
  • Margin of Excellence Graduate Student Research Award, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Finalist, American Society for Nutrition Graduate Student Research Competition, 2006

Publications:

  1. Baum JI, Layman DK, Freund GG, Rahn KA, Nakamura MT & Yudell BE. A reduced carbohydrate, increased protein diet stabilizes glycemic control and minimizes adipose tissue glucose disposal in rats. J Nutr 136:1855-61(2006)
  2. Nakamura MT, Yudell BE, Loor JJ. Regulation of energy metabolism by long-chain fatty acids. Prog Lipid Res (epub ahead of print)

Chad Stroud, PhD Nutritional Sciences, 2008

Current enrollment: College of Law, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Email: chadstroud@gamail.com
Thesis Title:
Awards:

  • USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship in Human Nutrition, 2003-2006
  • Margin of Excellence Graduate Student Research Award, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • Toshiro Nishida Research Award, 2006
  • First Place, Nutrition Symposium Poster Competition, 2007
  • First Place, ASN NGI-RIS Poster Competition, EB 07, Washington DC, 2007

Publications:

  1. Campbell JK, Stroud CK, Nakamura MT, Lila M & Erdman JW Jr. Serum Testosterone is reduced following short-term phytofluene, lycopene, or tomato powder consumption in F344 rats. J Nutr 136: 2813-9, 2006
  2. Stroud CK, Nara TY, Roqueta-Rivera M, Radlowski EC, Lawrence P, Zhang Y, Cho BH, Segre M, Hess RA, Brenna JT, Haschek WM, Nakamura MT (2009)*.* Disruption of FADS2 gene in mice impairs male reproduction and causes dermal and intestinal ulceration. J Lipid Res 50:1870-1880
  3. Roqueta-Rivera M, Stroud CK, Haschek WM, Akare SJ, Segre M, Brush RS, Agbaga M-P, Anderson RE, Hess RA & Nakamura MT (2010)*.* Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation fully restores fertility and spermatogenesis in male delta-6 desaturase knockout mice. J Lipid Res 51: 360-367

Hyun-Young Koo, PhD Nutritional Sciences, 2008 (co-advised by Dr. B.H.S. Cho)

First position: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Mentor Penny Kris-Etherton, 2008
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Email: hyun-koo@northwestern.edu
Thesis title: Regulation of energy metabolism by fructose in the liver
Awards:

  • Finalist, American Society for Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Research Competition, 2004
  • Margin of Excellence Graduate Student Research Award, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Publications:

  1. Koo HY, Wallig MA, Chung BH, Nara TY, Cho BH, Nakamura MT. Dietary fructose induces a wide range of genes with distinct shift in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in fed and fasted rat liver. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1782: 341-8, 2008
  2. Koo HY, Miyashita M, Cho BHS & Nakamura MT (2009). Replacing dietary glucose with fructose increases ChREBP activity and SREBP-1 protein in rat liver nucleus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 390: 285-289

Yewon Cheon, PhD Nutritional Sciences, 2008

First position: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Mentor Stanley Rapopport
Current position: Program Coordinator, Office of Intramural Training and Education, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Email: cheony@mail.nih.gov
Thesis title: Regulation of highly unsaturated fatty acid metabolism

  • Awards: Margin of Excellence Graduate Student Research Award, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
  • Second place, Nutrition Symposium Poster Competition, 2004

Publications:

  1. Nakamura MT, Cheon Y, Li Y & Nara TY. Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression by fatty acids. Lipids 39:1077-1083, 2004
  2. Cheon Y, Nara TY, Band MR, Beever JE, Wallig MA & Nakamura MT. Induction of overlapping genes by fasting and a peroxisome proliferator in pigs: Evidence of functional PPAR-alpha in non-proliferating species. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 288:R1525-35, 2005

Yue Li, PhD Human Nutrition 2006

First position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, Mentor Rosalind Coleman, 2006
Thesis title: Role of PPAR alpha in regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism
Awards:

  • FSHN Predoctoral Fellowship, 2001
  • FSHN Blanche Fellowship, Verdell Frazier Young Awards, 2002
  •  Winner, ASNS Nutrient-Gene Interaction Research Interest Group Poster Competition, 2004
  • Winner, ASNS Graduate Student Research Competition, 2004
  • ASNS Predoctoral Fellowship, 2005

Publications:

  1. Nakamura MT, Cheon Y, Li Y & Nara TY (2004). Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression by fatty acids. Lipids 39:1077-1083
  2. 2. Li Y, Nara TY & Nakamura MT (2005). Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha is required for feedback regulation of highly unsaturated fatty acid synthesis. J Lipid Res 46:2432-2440

Weisong He, MS Nutritional Sciences 2002

First Position: Research Associate, Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thesis Title: Effects of a hypolipidemic agent on highly unsaturated fatty acid metabolism

  • Award: Finalist, American Society for Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Research Competition, 2002

Publications:

  1. Nara TY, He WS, Tang C, Clarke SD & Nakamura MT (2002). The E-box like sterol-regulatory element mediates suppression of the human delta-6 desaturase gene by highly unsaturated fatty acids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 296:111-117
  2. He WS, Nara TY & Nakamura MT (2002). Delayed induction of delta-6 and delta-5 desaturases by a peroxisome proliferator. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 299:832-838

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kevin Gasparini, Computer Science

Lina Todorova, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Jaime Lemens, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Yalan Meng, Computer Science

Frank Migliarese, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Undergraduate Students

Eileen Kamtawijoyo, BS Food Science, James Scholar Honors Program 2012

Honors research title: Titration of arachidonic acid requirement for brain, adrenal glands, spleen, liver, and intestinal functions

Wembo Jia, BS Chemical Engineering 2012

Research title: Fast food choices
Current enrollment: Food Science PMS program

Julie McDaniel, BS Finance 2011

Research title: Trial of molecular diagnosis in a case of Anderson disease

Jennah Lahood, BS Molecular and Cellular Biology 2011

Research title: Backcrossing D6D gene into 129S6/SvEvTac strain strengthens conclusions of AA and DHA deficiency
Current enrollment: College of Medicine, University of Illinois

Alexandra Ginos, BS Dietetics, Chancellor’s Scholar Honors Program 2010

Research title: Comparing Meal Options at McDonalds: Do Healthy Meal Options Exist?

Ana Ristich, BS Dietetics, James Scholar Honors Program 2010

Research title: Nutrition Education Project

Inyoung Na, BS Human Nutrition 2010

Research title: Dlta-6-desaturase Knockout Mouse Time Course Study of HUFA Depletion and Hepatic Gene Expression

Tyler Harpole, BS Human Nutrition, Molecular and Cellular Biology, James Scholar Honors Program 2010

Research title: Lipogenic gene expression in highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) deficient mice

Eliza Chen, BS Dietetics, James Scholar Honors Program 2009

Research title: Spleen Gene Expression of Delta-6-Desaturase (D6D) Knockout Mouse

David Barretto, BS Sociology, LAS 2009

Research title: Time Course Study: Fatty Acid Analysis

Michelle Wrhel, BS Food Science, James Scholar Honors Program 2009

Research title: Weight-Loss Curriculum Program
Award: FSHN Outstanding Senior Award in Food Science, 2009

Christina Herppich, BS Animal Sciences 2008

First position after graduation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 2008-
Research Title: Marginal protein deficiency increases plasma adiponectin in rats

Miaozhen Li, BS Human Nutrition 2008

First position after graduation: School of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 2008
Research Title: Activation of carbohydrate response element binding protein by dietary fructose

Daniel Schlacks, BS Biochemistry, Chancellor’s Scholar Honors Program 2008

First position after graduation: Charite International Graduate Program Medical Neurosciences, Berlin, Germany, 2008
Research Title: Lysophospholipids as potential PPAR alpha ligands

Emily Radlowski, BS Dietetics 2007

First position: Graduate Program, Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Advisor Sharon Donovan, 2007-
Email: radlowsk@uiuc.edu
Research Title: Differential Gene Expression in the Delta-6 Desaturase Knockout Mouse

Award:

  • FSHN Outstanding Undergraduate Research, 2006

Publication:

  1. Stroud CK, Nara TY, Roqueta-Rivera M, Radlowski EC, Lawrence P, Zhang Y, Cho BH, Segre M, Hess RA, Brenna JT, Haschek WM, Nakamura MT (2009)*.* Disruption of FADS2 gene in mice impairs male reproduction and causes dermal and intestinal ulceration. J Lipid Res 50:1870-1880

Kathryn Mysko, BS Human Nutrition 2007, James Scholar Honors Program

Honors Research Title: Essentials for Eaters and Dieters

Erin Hendricks, BS Human Nutrition 2006, James Scholar Honors Program

First position after graduation: School of Dental Medicine, southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, 2006
Honors research title: Essentials for Eaters and Dieters Website
Awards:

  • Outstanding Senior in Human Nutrition, 2006
  • Bronze Tablet

 Jaehwan Jung, BS Biochemistry 2006, James Scholar/Senior Thesis Program

Senior thesis title: Regulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c and phospholipid metabolism by ethanolamine and eritadenine treatments

Ann Contos, BS Food Industry and Business 2006

Research: Developing “Essentials for Eaters & Dieters”

Molly Gaisford, BS Dietetics 2006, James Scholar Honors Program

First position after graduation: School of Nursing, University of Illinois
Honors research title: Creating an outreach website on obesity/dieting

Erin Murphy, BS Dietetics 2005, James Scholar Honors Program

First position: Dietetics Intern, VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA

Honors research title: Assessing the nutritional implications of food consumption on increasing obesity rates

Sandra Sieber, BS Human Nutrition 2005, James Scholar Honors Program

Honors research title: Weight loss and weight maintenance

Lefan Zhuang, BS Molecular and Cellular Biology 2005, Senior Thesis Program

First position: Research Specialist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Institute of Genomic Biology, IL

Senior thesis title: Dietary effects on susceptibility to breast cancer(Co-advised by Dr. Keith Singletary)

Sungyul Chung, BS Molecular and Cellular Biology 2005

First position after graduation: Graduate Program, Crop Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Advisor Glen Hartman, 2007
Research title: Effects of high-fructose diet on plasma insulin and glucagon in fasted and fed rats

Grace Tivnan, BS Dietetics 2003, James Scholar Honors Program

First position: Dietetics Intern, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Honors research title: Everything you wanted to know about fatty acids and more!
Award:

  • FSHN Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award, 2002

David Shin, BS Biology 2003

First enrollment: Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL

High School Students

Camille Range, Research Apprentice Program II, 2009

Juliette Morris, Research Apprentice Program II, 2006

Jennipher Miller, Research Apprentice Program II, 2005, 2006

Courtney Haynes, Research Apprentice Program II, 2005
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