John Burgess

Areas of Expertise

• nutritional biochemistry

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

Department of Nutrition Science Research Area(s)

• Metabolism and Obesity

Biography

John Burgess grew up in Philadelphia, PA and received his B.S. (1980), M.S. (1985) and Ph.D. (1988) from the Pennsylvania State University in nutritional biochemistry. His postdoctoral training was in pharmacology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Nutrition Science since 1990 teaching and conducting research. He has mentored and graduated 23 M.S. and PhD. students and collaborated with colleagues in several other departments. Currently the research in the lab focuses on understanding and mitigating one of the complications of diabetes: peripheral neuropathies (PN). Oxidative stress due to hyperglycemia has been linked to the pathogenesis of PN via increased ROS generation overwhelming the endogenous antioxidant defense. Studies with a cell line model suggest that redox balance maintained by cellular processes that keep sulfhydryl groups reduced is key to preventing cell damage. We are investigating dietary strategies that maintain redox balance and protect peripheral neurons from damage for individuals with diabetes.

Education

• PHD, 1988, Pennsylvania State University

Current Courses

• NUTR 30300 - Essentials of Nutrition

Selected Publications

• Stochelski, M. A., T. Wilmanski, M. Walters and J. R. Burgess (2019). "D3T acts as a pro-oxidant in a cell culture model of diabetes-induced peripheral neuropathy." Redox Biol 21: 101078.
• Wilmanski, T., X. Zhou, W. Zheng, A. Shinde, S. S. Donkin, M. Wendt, J. R. Burgess and D. Teegarden (2017). "Inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D promotes oxidative stress in early breast cancer progression." Cancer Lett 411: 171-181.
• Wilmanski, T., K. Buhman, S. S. Donkin, J. R. Burgess and D. Teegarden (2017). "1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D inhibits de novo fatty acid synthesis and lipid accumulation in metastatic breast cancer cells through down-regulation of pyruvate carboxylase." J Nutr Biochem 40: 194-200.
• Forbes, R., D. Gasevic, E. M. Watson, T. R. Ziegler, E. Lin, J. R. Burgess and N. Gletsu-Miller (2016). "Essential Fatty Acid Plasma Profiles Following Gastric Bypass and Adjusted Gastric Banding Bariatric Surgeries." Obes Surg 26(6): 1237-1246.
• Zhou, Y., D. E. Harrison, K. Love-Myers, Y. Chen, A. Grider, K. Wickwire, J. R. Burgess, M. A. Stochelski and R. Pazdro (2014). "Genetic analysis of tissue glutathione concentrations and redox balance." Free Radic Biol Med 71: 157-164.

Selected Honors/Awards

• College of Health and Human Sciences Graduate Mentor Award, - 2019

Professional Affiliations

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Society for Nutrition
• Society for Redox Biology and Medicine