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Research Associate

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Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and, increasingly, other psychiatric disorders including use in children.  Despite their tremendous efficacy, atypical antipsychotics are associated with adverse metabolic side effects in these already metabolically vulnerable patients.  To alleviate these side effects we are studying the ability of the atypical antipsychotics (e,g, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, ziprasidone) to promote adiposity, obesity, and metabolic dysregulation in rodent models and humans.  Our NIH funded research is aimed at quantifying, understanding and preventing these adverse events.  Our present focus is to determine the peripheral mechanisms of the endocrine- metabolic side effects.  In vivo and in vitro physiological, molecular, knockout and pharmacological approaches are being used to reveal the mechanism(s) underlying the metabolic side effects of olanzapine and the broad application of these findings to other atypical antipsychotic.  We are seeking a qualified research associate to help in our efforts.  This research project provides a terrific training opportunity in translational metabolomics and metabolic phenotyping.  The ideal candidate should have a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences with preclinical research experience in vitro or in vivo.  An understanding of intermediary metabolism and metabolic phenotyping in mouse and rat models using in vivo and in vitro approaches (isolated muscle strips, adipose tissues fragment or isolated fat or liver cells or embryonic fibroblast cells) would be helpful.  Candidates should submit current CV and email addresses of three references to <clynch@psu.edu>  This is a research tract faculty position however post candidates will also be strongly considered.

     Recent publications on this project include:

     (1) A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Crossover Study of the Acute Metabolic Effects of Olanzapine in Healthy Volunteers.  Vance L. Albaugh, Ravi Singareddy, David Mauger, Christopher J. Lynch  PLoS ONE 6(8): e22662. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022662

     (2)  Olanzapine promotes fat accumulation in male rats by decreasing physical activity, repartitioning energy and increasing adipose tissue lipogenesis while impairing lipolysis.
Albaugh VL, Judson JG, She P, Lang CH, Maresca KP, Joyal JL, Lynch CJ.
Mol Psychiatry. 2011 May;16(5):569-81. Epub 2010 Mar 23.
PubMed [citation]PMID: 20308992 PMCID: PMC2892549

     (3)   Atypical Antipsychotics Rapidly and Inappropriately Switch Peripheral Fuel Utilization to Lipids, Impairing Metabolic Flexibility in Rodents.
Albaugh VL, Vary TC, Ilkayeva O, Wenner BR, Maresca KP, Joyal JL, Breazeale S, Elich TD, Lang CH, Lynch CJ.  Schizophr Bull. 2010 May 21. [Epub ahead of print]
PubMed [citation]PMID: 20494946

     (4)    Hormonal and metabolic effects of olanzapine and clozapine related to body weight in rodents.  Albaugh VL, Henry CR, Bello NT, Hajnal A, Lynch SL, Halle B, Lynch CJ.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006 Jan;14(1):36-51.
PubMed [citation]PMID: 16493121 PMCID: PMC2761763

      URLS   
http://med.psu.edu/web/physiology/home     
http://www.facebook.com/CellularandMolecularPhysiologyatPSU

Submit application electronically to:
clynch@psu.edu                                  
Dr Christopher J Lynch
Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Penn State University College of Medicine
500 University Dr (Rm C4757, MC H166)
Hershey, PA 17033
                
Office Ph: 717-531-5170                
Cell Ph:717-405-8569                         
FAX: 717-531-7667                        Skype: christopherlynch1

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