Research of Human and Animal Physiology

Our research focus is one of the pillars of physiology: metabolism, which includes energy metabolism, intermediary metabolism, redox metabolism, and mitochondria. We obtain our results by performing experimental research in humans, animal models (including invertebrates), organs/tissues, and cells, using state-of-the-art physiological, functional, biomolecular and related bioanalysis tools in an integrated manner.

We have extensive expertise in performing interventions studies focused on assessment of energy metabolism, integrated with metabolic, functional genomic and immune-histochemical analysis. We perform short term interventions and cross-sectional mechanistic studies in humans, detailed short and long term dietary interventions in model animals (mice and pigs), and detailed mechanistic studies in tissues as well as primary and cultured cells.

Our research focus

We focus on diets, nutrients and compounds that affect mitochondria and intermediary metabolism and study effects of age, sex and physical activity. Our physiological expertise includes human indirect calorimetry, muscle function analysis and non-invasive assessment of mitochondrial function by NIRS; mouse indirect calorimetry extended with H2 and CH4 sensors to measure microbial activity and 12CO2 and 13CO2 sensors to measure substrate oxidation; cell respiration and metabolic flux analysis by seahorse XF96 and Oroboros.

We are well equipped for transcriptome analysis, for a wide array of biological and biochemical techniques and for light- and fluorescence microscopy.

Staff scientists

Name	Topic
dr. AF (Anna) Bekebrede (PhD)	Intestinal metabolism, (cellular) model systems and omics integration
dr. VCJ (Vincent) de Boer (PhD)	Cellular metabolism and metabolic regulation (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo)
dr. ir. ML (Marlou) Dirks (PhD)	Skeletal muscle mass regulation, muscle (disuse) atrophy and metabolic health in vivo (human)
dr. S (Sander) Grefte (PhD)	Muscle-nerve interaction (in vitro, mouse) & redox metabolism, age
prof.dr.ir. J (Jaap) Keijer (PhD)	Metabolic pathways and mitochondria (in vivo) & nutrients, aging, metabolic disease
dr. WJH (Werner) Koopman (PhD)	Mitochondria: structure - energy metabolic function (in vitro)
dr. AG (Arie) Nieuwenhuizen (PhD)	Energy metabolism in health and disease (human) & muscle, nutrition
dr. HL (Heather) Petrick (PhD)	Mitochondrial function and muscle metabolism (ex vivo, in vivo, human)
dr.ir. EM (Evert) van Schothorst (PhD)	Substrate metabolism and intestines (pre-clinical) & diabetes, carbohydrates
dr. KJ (Katja) Teerds (PhD)	Male and female reproduction (pig, mouse, human, various animals)
dr. D (Deli) Zhang (PhD)	Atrial fibrillation (in vitro, drosophila, preclinical, human) & risk factors, prevention

Name
dr. AF (Anna) Bekebrede (PhD)
Topic
Intestinal metabolism, (cellular) model systems and omics integration
Name
dr. VCJ (Vincent) de Boer (PhD)
Topic
Cellular metabolism and metabolic regulation (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo)
Name
dr. ir. ML (Marlou) Dirks (PhD)
Topic
Skeletal muscle mass regulation, muscle (disuse) atrophy and metabolic health in vivo (human)
Name
dr. S (Sander) Grefte (PhD)
Topic
Muscle-nerve interaction (in vitro, mouse) & redox metabolism, age
Name
prof.dr.ir. J (Jaap) Keijer (PhD)
Topic
Metabolic pathways and mitochondria (in vivo) & nutrients, aging, metabolic disease
Name
dr. WJH (Werner) Koopman (PhD)
Topic
Mitochondria: structure - energy metabolic function (in vitro)
Name
dr. AG (Arie) Nieuwenhuizen (PhD)
Topic
Energy metabolism in health and disease (human) & muscle, nutrition
Name
dr. HL (Heather) Petrick (PhD)
Topic
Mitochondrial function and muscle metabolism (ex vivo, in vivo, human)
Name
dr.ir. EM (Evert) van Schothorst (PhD)
Topic
Substrate metabolism and intestines (pre-clinical) & diabetes, carbohydrates
Name
dr. KJ (Katja) Teerds (PhD)
Topic
Male and female reproduction (pig, mouse, human, various animals)
Name
dr. D (Deli) Zhang (PhD)
Topic
Atrial fibrillation (in vitro, drosophila, preclinical, human) & risk factors, prevention