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.

Journal Club Discussions

April 2024 Journal Club Articles

  • Crujeiras AB, Izquierdo AG, Primo D, Milagro FI, Sajoux I, Jácome A, Fernandez-Quintela A, Portillo MP, Martínez JA, Martinez-Olmos MA, de Luis D, Casanueva FF. Epigenetic landscape in blood leukocytes following ketosis and weight loss induced by a very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) in patients with obesity. Clin Nutr. 2021 Jun;40(6):3959-3972. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.05.010. Epub 2021 May 21. PMID: 34139469. 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.05.010. Discussed on April 5, 2024
  • March 2024 Journal Club Articles

  • Ryan JP, Karim HT, Aizenstein HJ, Helbling NL, Toledo FGS. Insulin sensitivity predicts brain network connectivity following a meal. Neuroimage. 2018 May 1;171:268-276. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.024. Epub 2018 Jan 13. PMID: 29339315; PMCID: PMC5857474. 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.024. Discussed on March 29, 2024
  • Berry A, Collacchi B, Capoccia S, D'Urso MT, Cecchetti S, Raggi C, Sestili P, Aricò E, Pontecorvi G, Puglisi R, Ortona E, Cirulli F. Chronic Isolation Stress Affects Central Neuroendocrine Signaling Leading to a Metabolically Active Microenvironment in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. Front Behav Neurosci. 2021 Jul 9;15:660738. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.660738. PMID: 34305544; PMCID: PMC8298821. 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.660738. Discussed on March 22, 2024
  • Moore MP, Shryack G, Alessi I, Wieschhaus N, Meers GM, Johnson SA, Wheeler AA, Ibdah JA, Parks EJ, Rector RS. Relationship Between Serum ?-Hydroxybutyrate and Hepatic Fatty Acid Oxidation in Individuals with Obesity and NAFLD. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Feb 21. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00336.2023. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38381399. 10.1152/ajpendo.00336.2023. Discussed on March 15, 2024
  • February 2024 Journal Club Articles

  • Lu JF, Zhu MQ, Xia B, Zhang NN, Liu XP, Liu H, Zhang RX, Xiao JY, Yang H, Zhang YQ, Li XM, Wu JW. GDF15 is a major determinant of ketogenic diet-induced weight loss. Cell Metab. 2023 Dec 5;35(12):2165-2182.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.003. Erratum in: Cell Metab. 2024 Feb 6;36(2):454-456. PMID: 38056430. 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.003. Discussed on Feb. 23, 2024