Sadanand Fulzele, DVM, M.V.Sc, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Endocrine Research
Division, Endocrinology
Department, Medicine
Office: 706-721-4850
Lab: 706-721-4600
Dr. Fulzele's lab is at the forefront of investigating the intricate relationship between nutrition metabolism and age-related muscle and bone loss.
With a primary focus on understanding how nutrition impacts musculoskeletal health over time, the team explores the roles of Tryptophan, Arginine, and Vitamin C in the pathophysiology of age-related musculoskeletal conditions. Beyond this, their research extends to exploring microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites, illuminating their potential impact on brain-gut-brain pathways and their intricate connections to musculoskeletal well-being. Additionally, the lab delves into the fascinating dynamics between the brain and bone marrow, uncovering pivotal signaling pathways relevant to conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. Through collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts, Dr. Fulzele's dedicated team is committed to pioneering novel therapeutic strategies to combat age-related diseases affecting muscles, bones, and neurological health
Ongoing Projects
- Nutrition Metabolism in Age-dependent muscle and bone loss
- Arginase 1 in Age-dependent muscle and bone loss
- Microbiota-derived Tryptophan Metabolites in Brain-Gut-Brain Pathophysiology
- Brain pathology and Bone Marrow interaction
Lab members
Sagar Vyavahare
- Postdoctoral Fellow
Sonu Kumar Gupta
- Postdoctoral Fellow
Current Undergraduate & Medical Students
Shivum Lal
- Medical Student 1st year
Mason Arbery
- Medical Student 1st year
Sagar Patel
- Medical Student 2nd year
Joshua Fernicola
- Medical Student 2nd year
Project: Branched Chain Ketoacid Dehydrogenase Kinase (BCKDK) in Skeletal Muscle biology and pathogenesis.
John N. Manfredi
- Medical Student 2nd year
Project: Gut Microbiome dysbiosis in Alzheimer's disease
Mohini Gharpure
- Medical Student 3rd year
Project:
a) Muscle RNA sequencing and Aging Geroscience. 2023 Jun;45(3):1303-1316
Project:
b) Brain-Bone complication in AD Neurobiol Dis. 2024 Jan 4:106404
Gabriel Brunkow-Schnell
- Undergraduate
Project: Autophagy and Aging
Ford Berger
- Undergraduate
Project: Gut-Microbiota derived metabolites in longevity
Former Students & Lab Members
Included from the last three years
Andrew Murphy
Project: Dietary Interventions for Healthy Musculoskeletal Aging
Biogerontology. 2022 Dec;23(6):681-698.
Duchesne Blanes
Project: Microbial-derived tryptophan metabolites role in muscle cells pathology
Exp Gerontol. 2023 Nov;183:112319
Adrian Girald Rodriguez
Project: Xanthurenic acid role in muscle and bone cells
Dhara Patel
Project: Bone Metabolites with Age in mice Model
Publication
- Mech Ageing Dev. 2021 Apr;195:111464. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111464.
- 2022 Oct;23(5):629-640. doi: 10.1007/s10522-022-09986-7.
Matthew Potter
Project: MicroRNAs and aging
Publication
- Bone.2021 Jan;142:115679. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115679. Epub 2020 Oct 3. PMID: 33022453.
- Biomol Concepts. 2021 Oct 13;12(1):132-143. doi: 10.1515/bmc-2021-0015. PMID: 34648701.
Ibrahim Yusufu
Project: Tryptophan and Gut Microbiota
Publication: Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 8;22(9):5005. doi: 10.3390/ijms22095005.
G Taylor Patterson
Project: Covid19 and musculoskeletal
Publication
- Aging Dis. 2021 Feb 1;12(1):14-26.
- Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Sep 5;11(9):1622.
Nicholas Cantu
Project: Covid19 and musculoskeletal
Publication
- Aging Dis. 2021 Feb 1;12(1):14-26.
- Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Sep 5;11(9):1622.
P Robinson Muller
Project: Identification of Biomarkers for osteoarthritis
Publication: Life (Basel). 2023 Feb 22;13(3):605. doi: 10.3390/life13030605
Publications, Google Scholar & TV Media
Print Media
Blocking a tiny RNA may forestall age-related bone and muscle loss, inflammation
Inhibiting a tiny RNA whose levels significantly increase with age, along with problems like weaker bones and sagging muscles, may be a way to keep our bodies more youthful and healthy, scientists say.
AU experts uncover a clue to why COVID-19 preys on seniors
Researchers at Augusta University may have gained an understanding of why older people and those with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to coronavirus.
Small molecule plays big role in weaker bones as we age
With age, expression of a small molecule that can silence others goes way up while a key signaling molecule that helps stem cells make healthy bone goes down, scientists report.
A Diet Lacking in Tryptophan Alters Gut Microbiota, Increases Inflammation
With age, a diet lacking in the essential amino acid tryptophan — which has a key role in our mood, energy level, and immune response — makes the gut microbiome less protective and increases inflammation body-wide, investigators report.