First name,Last name,Preferred title,Overview,Position,Department,Individual
Guoyao,Wu,Distinguished Professor,"Dr. Wu teaches graduate courses in protein metabolism and nutritional biochemistry. He conducts research in protein and amino acid metabolism at molecular, cellular, and whole body levels . The animal models used in his research include cattle, chicks, pigs, rats, sheep, fish, and shrimp. He has also conducted research on amino acid nutrition in humans.",Faculty Fellow||University Faculty Fellow||Distinguished Professor||Senior Faculty Fellow||Distinguished Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences||Animal Science||Texas A&M AgriLife Research||Texas A&M AgriLife Research||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n169f9a74
Karen,Beathard,"Instructional Associate Professor, Didactic Program in Dietetics Director","Dr. Beathard's research program aim is to participate in interdisciplinary collaborations that investigate the role of nutrition in overall health and cognitive performance. As a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), her expertise and interests are in the application of dietary interventions to prevent, reduce, and manage complications associated with obesity-related complications associated with obesity-related chronic disease. Most recent research has focus on the influence of various nutrients, including lutein and zeaxanthin, and foods on the impact of brain function, eye health, and cognitive performance.
Additional research interests are in mentoring relationships between dietetic students and RDNs. She is a co-collaborator in the RD Mentorship Program.","Instructional Associate Professor, Didactic Program in Dietetics Director",Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2f386439
Erin,Giles,Assistant Professor,"I am currently building a research program that uses an integrative, translational approach to understand the mechanisms by which obesity promotes postmenopausal breast cancers. My work focuses on understanding how the obese microenvironment, when combined with the metabolic and hormonal changes associated with menopause, promote tumor development, survival, and growth. In parallel, I am investigating the role of adipose tissue inflammation in the development of metabolic disease after menopause. My hope is that the knowledge gained from studying the 'normal' adipose and breast environments during menopause will also help us understand the changes that occur to create a tumor-promoting environment in the breast of obese women during this same window of time.",Assistant Professor,Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n4ccf1988
Idia,Thurston,Associate Professor,"My research aims to understand why certain groups of people experience a greater health and disease burden and to promote health equity among all youth and families. I strive to engage with communities to understand individual, familial, community, and cultural risk and protective factors among minoritized, marginalized, and underserved populations. In my research, I consider how co-occurring adversities (i.e., HIV, violence, substance misuse) and health comorbidities (i.e., metabolic complications) are maintained based on intersectional identities (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality). I then use this knowledge to develop strength-based, culturally-responsive programs and interventions to enhance well-being, reduce stigma, and promote self-empowerment.",Associate Professor||Associate Professor,Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n77bfadfb
Sherecce,Fields,Professor,"My research focuses on the trans-disease processes of cognitive and emotional dysregulation and how these factors affect health-risk behaviors in adolescents. Identifying trans-disease processes that contribute to the development or maintenance of multiple diagnostic categories -- that underlie both substance use and obesity -- can enhance the development of interventions that target the underlying process rather than specific symptoms of a single disorder. This not only provides a more efficient approach to treatment, it is particularly relevant to health disparities. I am especially interested in how these trans-disease processes interact with family, social, and psychological factors to increase engagement in health-related risk behaviors, and the development of appropriate prevention and intervention tools that can be used to improve health outcomes in youth. I conceptualize these processes in the context of physical and mental health disparities as they relate to stress, minority status (race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender) and socioeconomic factors (food insecurity).",Faculty Fellow||Professor||Associate Department Head||Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor,Center for Health Systems and Design||Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9f216306
Chaodong,Wu,Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow,"The long-term goal of Dr. Wu's research program is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of obesity and overnutrition-associated metabolic diseases including insulin resistance, diabetes, and fatty liver disease so that novel dietary and/or pharmacological approaches can be developed for preventing and/or treating metabolic diseases. Using molecular, cellular, and integrative approaches, the Wu lab is focused on investigating the interaction between metabolism and inflammation.",Professor||Professor,Texas A&M AgriLife Research||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na24a9d43