The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center will host David Church, director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, at 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, in ARKV 0002.

Church will discuss the use of tracers in studying protein and glucose metabolism in response to diet, physiological states and hormonal interventions. He will also explore muscle's role in clinical stress as a survival organ and highlight future research directions using isotope tracers in metabolic assessment.

Abstract: Stable isotope tracers have long been used to assess metabolic fluxes. In this talk, Church will outline why and how to use them in human and animal models. Further, a general overview of tracers will be provided, highlighting the different models and ways they can be used. The primary focus will be on protein and glucose metabolism in response to different dietary conditions, physiological states and hormonal interventions. A secondary focus will be on the role of muscle during clinical stress states and its role as a survival organ. Lastly, Church will briefly outline future targets exploring muscle metabolism and metabolic assessment with isotope tracers.

Biography: Church is a physiologist and muscle biologist with a strong background in stable isotope tracer methodology. He is the director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine. Church obtained his bachelor's degree in exercise science and biochemistry from DePauw University, where he also played varsity football and baseball. Following this, he was an athletic performance intern at Baylor University, where he studied exercise and nutritional biochemistry. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida with a focus on how to enhance human performance through exercise and nutrition. Church completed his post-doctoral fellowship in stable-isotope tracer methodology under the mentorship of professors Robert R. Wolfe and Arny Ferrando. His work is being utilized by the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate to augment warfighter ration components. He received the Nutrition Research Achievement Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Society in 2023 and the Vernon Young International Award for Amino Acid Research from the American Society for Nutrition in 2024.

This event is supported by NIGMS of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20GM139768. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Pizza and beverages will be served. Please contact Kimberley Fuller, fullerk@uark.edu, for more information.

For those unable to attend in person, this seminar will also be available via Zoom.