IAB Life Science Seminar: Kelly Drew and Robert "Trey" Coker lab sampler

March 4, 2020

University Relations

Members of IAB faculty Kelly Drew and Robert "Trey" Coker's research labs will present the following talks Friday, March 6, at 4 p.m. in the Murie Building auditorium.

Bahareh Barati will present “Entrepreneurial Research: On Translating Biomedical Research into Innovative Solutions and Successful Commercialization." Barati will discuss the following key aspects of entrepreneurial research based on her experience: 1) needs assessment, 2) idea development, 3) scientific methodology, and 4) approaches to commercialization.

Sheri Coker will present “Beneficial Influence of Reindeer Consumption on Protein Metabolism in Humans."  In this sampler, Coker will present isotopically derived data that details the dietary benefits of free-range reindeer consumption compared to beef on protein kinetics in humans.

Brandon Kowalski will present “Myogenic Responses to Alaska Backcountry Hunting."  This project investigates the metabolic response of skeletal muscle to backcountry hunting in Alaska. Kowalski will present his data on body composition and anabolic/catabolic gene expression as well as his plans to evaluate alterations in muscle proteome dynamics.

Sarah Rice will present “Metabolic Flux and Recycling in the Hibernating Arctic Ground Squirrel." During the prolonged fasting and extreme metabolic fluctuations of hibernation, vivo isotopic tracing and metabolomics were utilized to investigate nitrogen homeostasis and amino acid metabolism. It was observed that in vivo whole body production of metabolites are profoundly suppressed while amino acids with nitrogenous side chains accumulate over torpor and urea cycle intermediates remain unchanged. During arousal from hibernation, sequestration of free nitrogen (15N isotope) appears geared toward retention in amino acids rather than the urea cycle and may sustain essential and nonessential amino acid stores.

For more information, call Phill Harrington at 474-5866.