The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center will host Jamie I. Baum, an associate professor of food science and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Arkansas, at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in BELL 2267. Baum's research focuses on the role of dietary protein, amino acids and fatty acids in the regulation of skeletal muscle function for the prevention of chronic disease by using a molecule-to-man approach. In her talk, Baum will discuss the role skeletal muscle plays in sensing and modulating nutrient intake.

Abstract: The mission of Baum's lab is to address basic and applied research challenges related to defining the effect of dietary protein (quantity and quality) on energy balance to prevent chronic diseases across the lifespan using a molecule-to-man approach. Traditionally, energy balance has been attributed primarily to the brain and adipose tissue, but emerging evidence suggests that skeletal muscle plays a direct role in sensing and modulating nutrient intake. By uncovering specific appetite receptors on muscle cells, our research challenges conventional paradigms and opens new therapeutic avenues for addressing age-related muscle loss and metabolic dysfunction. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize treatment strategies for older adults by enabling targeted interventions that enhance muscle-driven metabolic signaling, improve energy homeostasis and mitigate the detrimental effects of aging on body composition and overall health.

Biography: Baum is an associate professor of food science and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the U of A. Her research focuses on dietary protein, muscle health and disease prevention across the lifespan, with funding from NIH, USDA and commodity groups. She brings prior experience as a nutrition scientist in the food industry, holds a Ph.D. in nutritional science from the University of Illinois and was a postdoctoral scholar in cellular & molecular physiology at Penn State College of Medicine in 2006. Her work and expert commentary have been featured in national outlets including Prevention, Consumer Reports, Eating Well and AARP. Baum also hosts Balance, a monthly nutrition and physical activity program on KUAF, the local NPR affiliate, with professor Erin Howie.

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.

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.