Dorothy Teegarden

Areas of Expertise

• Breast Cancer
• Obesity
• Cellular Energy Metabolism
• Interdisciplinary Research Educational Programs

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

Department of Nutrition Science Research Area(s)

• Metabolism and Obesity
• Minerals, Vitamin D and Bone Health
• Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention

Biography

Dorothy Teegarden, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University. She also serves as the Director of the Women’s Global Health Research at Purdue. One of her primary research areas is identifying molecular mechanisms that regulate alterations in energy metabolism, with a particular focus on obesity, to identify dietary targets such as vitamin D to prevent breast cancer. Her current research is supported by funding that includes NIH and USDA. She is also involved in external service activities that include for National Institute of Health, USDA, Department of Defense, American Cancer Society, and the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, she engages in educational research focusing on designing, developing, and implementing models of undergraduate and graduate research programs that enhance students’ abilities to work in interdisciplinary teams, encourage career trajectories related to significant health issues, and increase students’ abilities to succeed in their future careers. The research teams and collaborations she works with span broadly across disciplines including biologists from distinct fields, engineers, statisticians and bioinformaticians, social scientists, psychologists, and educational specialists.

Education

• 1990-1993 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 1987-1990 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Biochemistry (Mentor: Claudia Kent), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 1987 Ph.D. Human Nutrition and Nutritional Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 1976 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Antioch University, Yellow Springs OH

Websites

• Women's Global Health Institute
• Teegarden Research Website
• Purdue Institute for Cancer Research
• Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Research Sciences Program

Current Courses

• NUTR 605 - Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition 1
• NUTR 297H - Nutrition Science Honors Program Introduction
• NUTR 626 - Advanced Presentation Skills

Selected Honors/Awards

• Outstanding Cancer Research Award, Lafayette Lions Club - 2023
• Violet Haas Award, Purdue University - 2022
• Member, Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (new committee): Standing Committee on Evidence Synthesis, and Communications in Diet and Chronic Disease Relationships. - 2021-present
• College of Health and Human Sciences Career Research Achievement Award - 2022
• Purdue University Provost’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentor - 2015
• College of Health and Human Sciences Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award - 2015
• University Faculty Scholar - 2011-2016
• Susan Bulkeley Butler Mentorship Award - 2012

Selected Grants

• Principle Investigator Multi-PIs: Stephen Hursting, Michael Wendt NIH (R01CA271597). 2022/12/28-2027/11/30. Impact of Hypoxia on Lipid Metabolism in Obesity-Driven Breast Cancer Progression, $3,221,919
• Principle Investigator; Obesity, Metabolism and Breast Cancer Metastasis; National Cancer Institute (R01 CA232589). Multi-PIs: Stephen Hursting (UNC) and Michael Wendt (Purdue). Total: $2,498,840