Cell Biology and Physiology

After 37 years of service, I retired from Auburn University as a Professor Emeritus and Associate Dean Emeritus.  After my retirement, I missed interacting with students and teaching physiology.  Soon after my retirement VCOM Auburn was established, and since its inception, I have been fortunate to work part-time in our admissions process and teach Cell Biology and Physiology in Blocks 3 and 5.

Education

My research focuses on systemic lupus erythematosus using murine animal models. In my laboratory, we study the role of epigenetics and the microbiome and how these factors regulate the immune system. In regard to my research training, I obtained my PhD from the Medical College of Georgia in Physiology and Endocrinology and completed a three-year post-doc at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Department of Medicine/Division of Rheumatology under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Gilkeson. After my post-doctorate, I remained on staff as a Research Assistant Professor at MUSC for 2 years before taking the position as Chairman for Physiology and Biochemistry at VCOM and a joint appointment at the Vet School at Virginia Tech. I have extensive experience in both immune function and murine lupus. In Google Scholar, my studies have and been cited over 5000 times, and I have an h-index of 39 and an I10-index of 60.

Education

Current research focus is on regulatory mechanisms of skeletal and cardiac muscle adaptation. Muscle atrophy and contractile and metabolic adaptations occur in skeletal muscle in response to inactivity and various disease states. Similar changes occur in heart muscle in response to disease states such as hypertension, which can result in compensatory hypertrophy and ultimately heart failure. My laboratory has identified several novel long-non coding (lnc) RNAs that are implicated in gene regulation, particularly those of the myosin heavy chain gene family of motor proteins. These lncRNAs may serve as feasible therapeutic targets to restore muscle function compromised by disuse or disease.

Education

Cardiovascular biochemistry, protein structure-function, enzyme mechanism, enzyme regulation, cardiac calcium transport regulation, congestive heart failure, drug discovery and natural products, cellular metabolism, warm water consumption as a wellness therapy to improve blood lipid status and reduce inflammation. Most recently using EPR spectroscopy to detect free radical generation and/or quenching by carbon nanotubes and carbon nanohorns. CAPABILITIES: Most basic wet lab biochemistry techniques, various structure-function-dynamics spectroscopic techniques (electron paramagnetic resonance, fluorescence), basic chemical techniques and analyses of biological samples.

The research interests of the Lipsmeyer lab are focused on female reproductive physiology and women’s reproductive health. Utilizing a combination of in vitro and in vitro models, we are currently investigating the contribution of the microbiome to normal female reproductive physiology and how perturbations in in the microbiome by diseases such as obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome lead to dysfunction in the ovary, uterus and placenta. The Lipsmeyer lab is also interested in changes in the microbiome during pregnancy and how microbial derived metabolites contribute to maternal and fetal health and pregnancy outcomes.

Education

My early research focused on the beneficial effects of adjuvant therapies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in clinical and pre-clinical populations concentrating on endothelial function/dysfunction and arterial stiffness on blood flow mechanics, myocardial oxygen demand, and left-ventricular wasted energy. To expand my research in aging and cardiovascular disease, I then focused on the differential effects of androgens and estrogens, specifically, testosterone replacement therapy in older hypogonadal males and the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia, bone metabolism, and risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Currently, my research focuses on the role of hormone dysregulation and the development of cognitive decline associated with aging and the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), related pathology and novel adjuvant therapies to prevent the progression of vascular disease associated with aging and the development of AD. Current projects include, ‘Regulation of Luteinizing Hormone to Prevent Cognitive Decline of Reproductive Senescence and Alzheimer’s Disease’, ‘Neurophysiological effects of whole coffee fruit concentrate in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A fMRI Investigation’ and ‘Extra-virgin olive oil prevents MCI conversion to Alzheimer’s disease’. In addition, I continue to investigate the molecular environment of the prostate and the development of cancers. To this end, current collaborative projects include, ‘High-density lipoprotein cholesterol nanoparticle mimic for the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer’, ‘Novel engineered nanoparticle based drug delivery and biosensing assay system for in vivo prostate cancer treatment and monitoring’, and ‘Iatrogenic cardiac and skeletal muscle metabolic dysfunction in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy and radiation treatment’