Dr. Deutz is the Director and Professor of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. His research and interests are in clinical nutrition and metabolism research in animals and humans. He has published over 300 papers during his 25 years in this research field. His clinical interest is using nutritional supplements to treat malnutrition in older adults, and during acute and chronic disease states.Click here to read more about Dr. Deutz

Dr. Engelen is Professor and Co-director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, and Chancellor EDGES fellow at Texas A&M University. Her interests are translational research on disturbances in protein and amino acid metabolism underlying muscle wasting, on and the anabolic effects of clinical nutrition and exercise in the elderly and on chronic wasting diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and cancer). She has published over 90 papers in this research field (H index>40) and has given many presentations at national and international meetings. Click here to read more about Dr. Engelen.

Dr. Thaden is a Research Scientist of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. He is interested in furthering tracer-based  translational science (as described in his colleagues’ bios on this page) through the application of high-performance liquid and gas chromatography and quantitative triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Click here to read more about Dr. Thaden.

Gabriella ten Have is a Research Associate of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. She received her BSc in Biology at the Ghijsen Instituut in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Her thesis was on Endotoxin-induced reduction of ß-adrenoceptor number in guinea pig splenic lymphocyte membranes. She later worked at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Animal Medicine, University of Utrecht, and at the Department of Molecular Biology, NKI (Dutch Cancer Institute) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Click here to read more about Gabriella ten Have.

Sunny Simbo is a Research Associate at the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. He received his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Dschang, Cameroon in Africa. After completing his Masters at Baylor University in Waco Texas, he began his doctoral work at the Exercise and Sports Nutrition Lab in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University in exercise Physiology in 2008. This was completed in 2013 (thesis title: Effects of exercise and diet-induced weight loss on overweight/obese women on characterization of serum/white blood cells microRNAs and cytokine gene transcription). During his time as a doctoral student, he also conducted research on cells: MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and animal research on obese Zucker rats and mice. Click here to read more about Sunday Simbo.

Sarah Kirschner is a Ph.D. student at the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity (CTRAL) in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences in November 2014 and her Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition in January 2018 from the University of Hohenheim, Germany. She conducted her graduating research at CTRAL under the supervision of Drs. Nicolaas Deutz and Marielle Engelen. Her thesis focused on protein digestion and net anabolic response to a protein meal in the elderly and patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Congestive Heart Failure, and on the development of a stable tracer method to measure short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism. In her doctoral research, Sarah will investigate SCFA and fiber metabolism in COPD patients as well as SCFA metabolism and flux measurements during sepsis in a pig model.

Agata McNew is a Research Associate at the Center for Translational Research in Aging&Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. She studied Biotechnology at West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland, where she obtained her Master of Science in Engineering in 2010. After graduation, she completed post-diploma studies from Human Nutrition and Health Promotion at the same university and then registered for a Ph.D. degree conferment procedure at Faculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences. Her thesis is focused on identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for reproductive performance of Sus scrofa domestica (domestic pig) and molecular analysis of candidate genes for those traits. In her current work, Agata’s research interest encompasses genomic and metabolic impact of nutrition in animal and human models with emphasis on energy metabolism in obesity.

Dr. Ruebush is a Research Associate at the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. She completed her BS and MS in Chemistry at Arizona State University and Texas A&M University, respectively. Her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, completed in 2012,  focused on policy, professional development of high science school teachers, and student science achievement in Texas (dissertation title: Identifying patterns of relationships between professional development and professional culture with Texas high school science teachers and students). Prior to joining the group, Dr. Ruebush worked in the Research Compliance office at TAMU. Dr. Ruebush will be coordinating education efforts for CTRAL and assisting with regulatory compliance.

Clayton Cruthirds, MS is a Ph.D student in the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity of the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. He studied biology at the University of Missouri and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in May 2013. As part of his education he performed research for two years under Dr. Frank Booth in the Department of Biomedical sciences. Dr. Booth’s lab uses a rat colony that is selectively bred for either high or low wheel running in order to study the effects of exercise on various physiological systems. His projects ranged from quantifying muscle mRNA expression after chronic exercise training to the vasodilation response of an oral ATP supplement. These projects, among others, were performed under the supervision of Drs. Mike Roberts and Joe Company at the University of Missouri.

After his graduation from the University of Missouri he joined the research group of Dr. Tim Lightfoot at Texas A&M University as a master’s student. During his two years in this lab he worked with mice looking into the genetic basis for physical activity. His thesis project focused on the effect of housing density and wheel number on daily running in SENCAR mice. That is, how would housing multiple mice and multiple wheels in the same cage alter distance, time, and speed ran over a six month period. Click here to read more about Clayton Cruthirds.

Kimberly Coyle is an RN III at the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2016. Prior to joining CTRAL, she gained nursing experience in the fields of Medical-Surgical, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Pre and Post-Operative Care, and Research.

Kevin Randolph is our staff pharmacist. He prepares custom compounded pharmaceuticals for use in our experiments. Kevin has a BS in Pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, as well as a Masters in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a Registered Pharmacist.

Dr. Wolfe is adjunct Professor of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity within the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. Dr Wolfe is among the most prolific and well‐published researchers in the fields of exercise science, nutrition, and aging. The stable isotope methodology that he pioneered has served as the principle method of assessing muscle protein breakdown and synthesis in response to exercise, disuse, disease and nutritional/pharmaceutical interventions. He has had over 35 years of continuous federal funding and has been funded by a number of pharmaceutical and nutrition- related companies to help them translate science into product development. According to ISI and SCOPUS, Dr. Wolfe has published over 800 publications, has an h‐index of 81, and has been cited in the literature over 13,000 times since 1995. He has also mentored a number of highly productive post‐doctoral students and junior faculty members in conducting research and obtaining federal grants.

Dr. Harrykissoon, at the College Station Medical Center, is an important collaborator for our research studies in COPD and Critical Care. He is a graduate of University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care,Pulmonary Diseases, and Sleep Medicine. As part of the collaboration he provides significant scientific input on the most current practices in his field and new ideas for research projects relevant to improving clinical practice. He will also assist with the recruitment of patients for ongoing projects.

Dr. Veley is an important collaborator for our research studies in COPD and studies at the Intensive Care Unit. He is the Section Head of the Department of Pulmonary Critical Care at the Scott and White Hospital. He is a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine, Domenica, WI, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, and Pulmonary Diseases. He provides valuable ideas for new research projects in his fields of expertise and advises investigators on ways to improve the validity of ongoing research projects. He will also assist with the recruitment of patients for ongoing projects.

Dr. Zachria, at the College Station Medical Center, is an important collaborator for our research studies in COPD and Critical Care. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas Health Science Center and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonary Diseases, and Sleep Medicine. As part of the collaboration, he provides significant scientific input on the most current practices in his field and new ideas for research projects relevant to improving clinical practice. He will also assist with the recruitment of patients for ongoing projects.

Sarah Rice is a Postdoctoral Research Associate of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University. She earned her B.S. at the Evergreen State College and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks under Dr. Kelly Drew.  Her thesis focused on identifying how hibernators maintain nitrogen homeostasis and amino acid supply during prolonged fasting, and how metabolites in return may influence hibernation physiology. Her long-term interest involves translating the metabolic adaptations in hibernation to practical applications in clinical nutrition and medicine.  

David Argyelan is a Research Assistant at the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity (CTRAL) in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2020 with a BS in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience. He conducted his undergraduate research under Dr. Jun Wang with a focus on identifying the neurobiological basis and exploring pathways of addiction in the dorsal striatum. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Medical Sciences from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.