Welcome to the Bridges Lab

Bridges Lab Photo

We are interested in the factors which cause obesity, the mechanisms by which this happens and how interventions in this pathway can alleviate obesity or its associated diseases. Our group uses a variety of model systems including cell culture, yeast, flies and mice to understand the signaling and metabolic pathways which are involved in these processes. We then use modern molecular biology, genetic and pharmacological tools to manipulate and learn more about the physiology of obesity.

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Recent Publications

  • Molly Mulcahy, Noura El Habbal, JeAnna Redd, Haijing Sun, Brigid Gregg and Dave Bridges. GDF15 knockout does not substantially impact perinatal body weight or neonatal outcomes in mice 2024. Endocrinology Full Text Details.
    • Article has an altmetric score of 1
  • Laura Saslow, Alison O'Brien, Kaitlyn Raymond, Hovig Bayandorian, Deanna Marriott, Judith Moskowitz, Jennifer Daubenmier, Dave Bridges, Cody Cousineau and Dina Griauzde. Feasibility and acceptability of an online multicomponent very low-carbohydrate intervention in young adult women with obesity: a pilot study 2024. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 10(1):102 Full Text Details.
    • Article has an altmetric score of 6
  • Cody Cousineau, Detrick Snyder, JeAnna Redd, Sophia Turner, Treyton Carr and Dave Bridges. Reduced beta-hydroxybutyrate disposal after ketogenic diet feeding in mice 2024. bioRxiv Full Text Details. Preprint
    • Article has an altmetric score of 1
  • Michael Saul, Elizabeth Litkowski, Niran Hadad, Amy Dunn, Stephanie Boas, Jon Wilcox, Julia Robbins, Yiyang Wu, Vivek Philip, Gennefer Merrihew, Jea Park, Philip De Jager, Dave Bridges, Vilas Menon, David Bennett, Timothy Hohman, Michael MacCoss and Catherine Kaczorowski. Hippocampus Glutathione S Reductase Potentially Confers Genetic Resilience to Cognitive Decline in the AD-BXD Mouse Population 2024. bioRxiv Full Text Details. Preprint
    • Article has an altmetric score of 2
  • Cody Cousineau, Kaelin Loftus, Gary Churchill and Dave Bridges. Cross-sectional association between blood cholesterol and calcium levels in genetically diverse strains of mice 2023. FEBS Open Biology 14(3):426-433 Full Text Details.
    • Article has an altmetric score of 5

    Click here for a full list of papers.

    Blog Posts

    Comments on Papers

    Journal Club Discussions

    2025 Journal Club Articles

  • Zhao Q, Yokomizo S, Perle SJ, Lee YF, Zhou H, Miller MR, Li H, Gerashchenko D, Gomperts SN, Bacskai BJ, Kastanenka KV. Optogenetic targeting of cortical astrocytes selectively improves NREM sleep in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 4;14(1):23044. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-73082-8. PMID: 39362954; PMCID: PMC11450172. 10.1038/s41598-024-73082-8. Discussed on Feb. 12, 2025
  • Reed JN, Hasan F, Karkar A, Banka D, Hinkle J, Shastri P, Srivastava N, Scherping SC, Newkirk SE, Ferris HA, Kundu BK, Kranz S, Civelek M, Keller SR. Combined effects of genetic background and diet on mouse metabolism and gene expression. iScience. 2024 Nov 4;27(12):111323. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111323. PMID: 39640571; PMCID: PMC11617257. 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111323. Discussed on Jan. 29, 2025

    • 2024 Journal Club Articles

  • Huang S, Chen J, Cui Z, Ma K, Wu D, Luo J, Li F, Xiong W, Rao S, Xiang Q, Shi W, Song T, Deng J, Yin Y, Tan C. Lachnospiraceae-derived butyrate mediates protection of high fermentable fiber against placental inflammation in gestational diabetes mellitus. Sci Adv. 2023 Nov 3;9(44):eadi7337. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adi7337. Epub 2023 Nov 3. PMID: 37922350; PMCID: PMC10624355. 10.1126/sciadv.adi7337. Discussed on Nov. 11, 2024
  • Machado H, Hofer P, Zechner R, Smith TK, Figueiredo LM. Adipocyte lipolysis protects mice against Trypanosoma brucei infection. Nat Microbiol. 2023 Nov;8(11):2020-2032. doi: 10.1038/s41564-023-01496-7. Epub 2023 Oct 12. PMID: 37828246; PMCID: PMC10627827. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01496-7. Discussed on Oct. 28, 2024
  • Sonsalla MM, Babygirija R, Johnson M, Cai S, Cole M, Yeh CY, Grunow I, Liu Y, Vertein D, Calubag MF, Trautman ME, Green CL, Rigby MJ, Puglielli L, Lamming DW. Acarbose ameliorates Western diet-induced metabolic and cognitive impairments in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Geroscience. 2024 Sep 14. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01337-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39271570. 10.1007/s11357-024-01337-3. Discussed on Sept. 30, 2024

    • Click here for a full list of journal club articles.

    Lab Photos

    Some thoughts on sweet potatoes for this Thanksgiving season

    Some thoughts on sweet potatoes for this Thanksgiving season

    Congratulations to the soon-to-be Dr. Cody Cousineau on the successful completion of his PhD oral defense!

    Congratulations to the soon-to-be Dr. Cody Cousineau on the successful completion of his PhD oral defense!

    Trey’s @uropumich poster on weight gain in diversity outbred mice on a ketogenic diet

    Trey’s @uropumich poster on weight gain in diversity outbred mice on a ketogenic diet

    Congratulations to Jiayin on the successful defense of her MS thesis “Effects of Prenatal Stress on Gestational Complications in the PRESS Study”!

    Congratulations to Jiayin on the successful defense of her MS thesis “Effects of Prenatal Stress on Gestational Complications in the PRESS Study”!

    New preprint from the lab on an association between calcium and cholesterol in diversity outbred mice.

    New preprint from the lab on an association between calcium and cholesterol in diversity outbred mice.

    Painting flower pots to say a fond good bye to our super talented undergrad Claire. Best of luck on the next steps!

    Painting flower pots to say a fond good bye to our super talented undergrad Claire. Best of luck on the next steps!

    Congratulations Dr. El Habbal 🍾🎉

    Congratulations Dr. El Habbal 🍾🎉

    Lab Christmas Bowling!

    Lab Christmas Bowling!

    Noura presenting her work on mTOR and lactation at Obesity Week

    Noura presenting her work on mTOR and lactation at Obesity Week

    Bridges Lab Halloween @ University of Michigan School of Public Health

    Bridges Lab Halloween @ University of Michigan School of Public Health

    Laura’s graduation pottery night

    Laura’s graduation pottery night

    @clairegleason at her @uropumich poster presenting her research on ketogenic diets in mice.

    @clairegleason at her @uropumich poster presenting her research on ketogenic diets in mice.

    Congratulations to Laura on successful defense on her MS thesis!

    Congratulations to Laura on successful defense on her MS thesis!

    University of Michigan School of Public Health

    University of Michigan School of Public Health

    Great time at Innocence’s going away party! @ Paint and Pour

    Great time at Innocence’s going away party! @ Paint and Pour

    Congratulations on your “escape” from the Bridges lab Lili!

    Congratulations on your “escape” from the Bridges lab Lili!

    Congratulations to our 2018 graduates; Molly, Cody and Detrick! #umsph

    Congratulations to our 2018 graduates; Molly, Cody and Detrick! #umsph

    Ayat presenting her UROP project

    Ayat presenting her UROP project

    Laura and Innocence presenting their work at the MDRC symposium

    Laura and Innocence presenting their work at the MDRC symposium

    Article by Detrick on Meat consumption and some of the evidence associated with it.

    Article by Detrick on Meat consumption and some of the evidence associated with it.