Hello and welcome to the Anthony Lab website!
About
The broad aim of the Anthony Lab research program here at Rutgers University is to understand how the body senses and responds to changes in nutrient supply, and to more fully comprehend the cellular adaptive mechanisms triggered by environmental stress in the fight against chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity. Our primary research focus is to explore the cellular mechanisms triggered by altered amino acid availability delivered by diet, drug or genetic alteration and to understand how altering the supply of amino acids, in total or individually, regulates protein homeostasis in the whole animal. We are especially interested in the cellular sensing of amino acids and how affiliated signal transduction networks integrate with each other to regulate mRNA translation and DNA transcription in body tissues. We also have longstanding interests in metabolic and molecular responses to exercise.
Current members
Principal investigator
Tracy G. Anthony, Ph.D.
I am a professor in the department of nutritional sciences at Rutgers University. I received a B.S. in human nutrition and foods from Virginia Tech, and received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nutritional sciences from the University of Illinois. I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular physiology at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA and then directed an independent research program at the Indiana University School of Medicine until my arrival to Rutgers in 2012. My research program explores cellular responses to nutrition and exercise, and my lab utilizes animal models to explore mechanisms of protein homeostasis with applications toward improving metabolism, reducing disease and increasing health span. I am especially interested in the cellular sensing of amino acids and how affiliated signal transduction networks such as the integrated stress response and the mammalian target of rapamycin complexes are coordinated in times of nutritional insufficiency or environmental stress. My lab also uses big data approaches to examine the regulation of protein homeostasis and gene expression. My research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture. In my free time I help manage the very busy lives of my three daughters. I recently completed the Princeton HiTOPS Half-Marathon.
Staff
Emily Mirek
I graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Rhode Island. I started out my career as an animal care technician and then moved over to the research side. I work a little bit on all of the projects in the lab and I love the variety that affords me. My interests include anything involving mice and my ultimate dream is to someday send our mice into space.
Graduate students
Jordan Levy
I completed my undergraduate degree in Nutrition here at Rutgers University. After having such a positive experience with both the faculty and the learning environment, I decided to continue my education at Rutgers to pursue a Doctorate in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology. Having been a competitive athlete, I have always had a deep interest in energy substrate utilization and body composition under different metabolic conditions. As a member of Anthony Lab, my work focuses on investigating the potential influence of amino acid status on circadian regulation within both the central and peripheral clocks. Outside the lab I enjoy spending my time outdoors, whether it be hiking or the beach. In addition, I am currently teaching myself how to play the guitar.
Jeffrey Burns
I graduated with degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Science with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and I am currently an MS student in the Toxicology department. My main interest has been cancer chemotherapeutic research, and in the Anthony lab I get to couple that with nutritional science. My current work involves investigating the role of GCN2 in maintaining hepatic lipid and lipoprotein homeostasis during exposure to the chemotherapeutic Asparaginase.
I am an avid sci-fi fan and enjoy brewing my own beer.
William Jonsson
Prior to coming to Rutgers to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Nutritional Sciences I earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in Biomedicine at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. I have always had an interest in the many ways our bodies interact with the external environment – may it be nutrition, exercise or other types of exposures. As a part of the Anthony Lab, I work on further detailing the impact of diets restricted in certain amino acids on metabolic health and the role of the integrated stress response in these processes.
Find me on LinkedIn
Brian Zalma, MS, CISSN
I completed my undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami. During my time there, I developed a passion for nutritional science. I then went on to earn my MS in Human Nutrition from Columbia University. I am currently in my first year as a PhD student in the Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology program. I’m also a certified sports nutritionist. I enjoy travelling, spending time with friends, and am an avid fan of the New York Jets and the University of Miami Hurricanes sports teams.
Undergraduate students
Michael Langevin
I’m an undergraduate student at Rutgers University in my fourth year pursuing a BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Spanish. In the Anthony Lab, I’m working on my undergraduate George H Cook Honors Thesis which I intend on completing in the Spring of 2020. I plan to better understand the body’s responses on a molecular level to the anti-cancer drug asparaginase and its potential for toxicity. As a pre-medical student, my academic interests tend to focus on how we can apply basic science bench-work to bedside practice.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, listening to podcasts, and trying new foods.
Find me on LinkedIn.
Amanda Lee
I am a 4th year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in dietetics. As a dietetics student, I have always been fascinated by how significantly the diet affects the body. In the Anthony Lab, I am currently working on my George H. Cook honors thesis which involves investigating the metabolic effects of an alternate-day sulfur amino acid restricted diet compared to that of a continuously restricted or complete diet. I expect to graduate in the spring of 2020. In my free time I enjoy practicing Taekwondo and spending time with my two siblings.
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Contact
Email: tracy.anthony[at]rutgers.edu
Phone: +1 (848) 932 6331
