Robert J. Cousins, Ph.D.
Boston Family Professor of Nutrition
Food Science & Human Nutrition
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Robert J. Cousins, Ph.D. |
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Mammalian zinc metabolism and function The research emphasis involves the molecular and cell biology and genomics of zinc metabolism and function. Zinc binding proteins as factors in zinc metabolism and control of their synthesis and function are extensively studied. Projects are aimed at the cellular and molecular level, but are also approached with intact animal models, including knockout mice, and with experiments using human subjects. Current emphasis is on the hormonal, cytokine and nutritional regulation of mammalian genes from the two zinc transporter families. Zinc fluorophores are being used to track zinc responsive signaling pathways and transcription factors. Zinc-responsive genes are being identified by genomic approaches, primarily microarrays, in both mice and humans as they relate to specific diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas and immune system. The overall goal of the research program is to understand the roles of this micronutrient in mammalian biology.
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Status: Not Accepting New Students This Year Contact Information: office: 201 Food Science & Human Nutrition Building lab: 202 & 259 Food Science & Human Nutrition Building phone: 352-392-2133 email: cousins@ufl.edu Home Page Biography: Dr. Cousins holds the Boston Family (Endowed) Chair in Nutrition (CALS), is Director of the Center for Nutritional Sciences and Joint Professor of Biochemistry (COM). Education included BA (Zoology & Chemistry; U Vermont), PhD. (Nutritional Biochemistry; UConn) and NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship (Biochemistry; U. Wisconsin-Madison). He has been at UF since 1982. Research activities have focused on trace metals in biology. His laboratory has produced over 65 graduate students and postdoctoral associates in nutritional sciences and biochemistry. He served as President of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) and the American Society of Nutrition. Among awards are the Osborne & Mendel Award from the American Society of Nutrition; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Mead Johnson Award for Distinguished Achievement in Biomedical Research (Nutrition) and the MERIT Award from the NIH. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. |
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