Department of Biomedical Sciences

University of Missouri

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Booth and Rector Awarded $1.5 million NIH Grant

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Frank Booth, PhD, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Biomedical Sciences, and R. Scott Rector, PhD, associate professor in the MU School of Medicine Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology a grant for their research focusing on the effects of the liver on brain function. The title of the study is “Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity: Liver Adaptations Drive Brain Benefits.” The NIH award is more than $1.5 million and will fund the research for three years.

The goal of this study is to see how exercise affects the liver, and therefore affects brain function of rats. The study involves having the animals run on treadmills and then conducting a series of harmless behavioral tests to determine the extent that liver health is improving the brain function. Booth says the research is important for understanding how we may be able to combat and prevent neurodegenerative diseases in humans through exercise. “If there are no therapies to cure these neurodegenerative diseases, then the alternative is to keep people from getting them,” Booth says. “We’re going to try to figure out which genes are affected and then either people will be encouraged to exercise, or people can then develop therapies to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.”

Graduate Studies in Biomedical Sciences

At the Department of Biomedical Sciences, investigators are engaged in research across a variety of fields, including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, exercise, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive physiology.

With world-class and award-winning researchers, our graduate program has a great deal to offer.

Find out more.

Faculty Spotlight

Xiangwei (Shaun) Du, PhD

News

  • Expertise, Collegiality Earn Tommy Thompson Dean’s Impact Award
  • SEC Emerging Scholars Program Helps Guide Career Options for Biomedical Sciences Fellow
  • Prenatal Opioid Exposure May Trigger Neurological, Behavioral Changes Later in Life
  • Research With Heart
  • Retired Associate Dean Ronald L. Terjung Passes Away

Contact

Department of Biomedical Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia
E102 Veterinary Medical Building
1520 Rollins Street
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-7011
Fax: 573-884-6890

 

Administrative Contacts

Dr. Douglas Bowles
Department Chair

BowlesD@missouri.edu
573-882-7193

Dr. Kevin Cummings
Director of Graduate Studies
cummingske@missouri.edu
573-882-0283

Thomas Thompson
Business Manager

ThompsonT@missouri.edu
573-882-4503

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