Louisiana Tech University lecture series to host expert in metabolic, molecular medicine

RUSTON, La – Dr. Joseph Bass, the Charles F. Kettering Professor of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine at Northwestern University, will visit Louisiana Tech University on April 4 as part of the New Frontiers in Biomedical Research lecture series.

Bass will present a lecture titled, "The Clock Gene Pathway from Behavior to Metabolism" at 3:30 p.m. in University Hall on the Louisiana Tech campus. The event is free and members of the campus and local communities are cordially invited to attend.

According to his research laboratory website, Bass says that two startling health statistics have captured widespread public attention over the past decade. The first is that all children born in the year 2000 face a one-in-three chance of developing diabetes during their lifetime. The second is that nearly one-third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese.

"Although both physical activity and nutrition are tied to this epidemic, new evidence from clinical and experimental research has pinpointed a role for disruption in the circadian system and sleep in obesity and diabetes," says Bass. "The internal circadian system can be thought of as an integrator of information that enables individuals to optimally time internal systems with the rising and setting of the sun.

"The primary research focus in our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the circadian clock regulates cell and organismal metabolism and the reciprocal feedback of metabolism on circadian oscillators in animals. We anticipate that a better understanding of clock processes will lead to innovative therapeutics for a spectrum of diseases including diabetes, obesity, autoimmunity, and cancer."

Bass is a graduate of Yale University and earned his Ph.D./MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1991. He has also completed training in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Chicago where he was the recipient of fellowships from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The New Frontiers in Biomedical Research seminar series is co-organized by Dr. Jamie Newman, the Scott Weathersby Endowed Professor in Zoology and Premedicine and assistant professor in biological sciences, and Dr. Mary Caldorera-Moore, assistant professor of biomedical engineering. The 2015-2016 series spotlights interdisciplinary collaborations, alumni spotlights and features, and research discussions by renowned guest speakers from across the nation.

Bass's visit is sponsored by the Lincoln Health Foundation. In addition to his research seminar at 3:30 p.m., he will be giving a second, abbreviated lecture, which is also open to the community, at 5:30 p.m. in Scotty Robinson Memorial Gymnasium. The title for this second talk is "How Do Genes Control Our Weight and Sugar Levels" and is designed for a more general audience. All in attendance at the seminar and are welcome to join Bass at a reception that will follow.

In addition to Bass' lectures, members of Louisiana Tech's School of Nursing, School of Human Ecology, and Department of Kinesiology will be visiting with members of the Boys and Girls Club and teaching them about living a healthy life. The goal of the series and collaboration with the Lincoln Health Foundation is to help improve the health of our community.

All lectures during the New Frontiers in Biomedical Research seminar series will be recorded and can be accessed through the College of Engineering and Science's Events web page at http://coes.latech.edu/about-the-college/events.php.

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Season sponsors for the 2015-2016 series include Lincoln Health Foundation, Louisiana Tech's College of Engineering and Science, the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, the Office of the President, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science, Sigma Xi, and generous donations from members of the community.

For more information on Bass and his presentation, or other events in this year's New Frontiers in Biomedical Research series, visit http://www.biomedicalresearch.wix.com/new-frontiers.

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Dave Guerin
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