Bri Risk, a Ph.D. student in the Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, was recognized with the Excellence in Research and Scholarship award at CSU’s 2023 Graduate Student Showcase on Nov. 15, one of five awarded by the College of Health and Human Sciences. Risk conducts research in the Intestinal Health Lab and the Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab and is co-mentored by Professor Tiffany Weir and Professor and Department Head Chris Gentile. Read on for more info about Risk’s research.
What inspired you to conduct this research?
The inspiration for conducting this research was the growing body of evidence suggesting that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating vascular function. Previous research from our department has shown that targeting the gut microbiota can improve endothelial dysfunction in the context of nutrient excess and obesity. In particular, a previous clinical trial found that intake of a particular Bacillus subtilis probiotic strain was associated with improved markers of endothelial function in healthy adults. Building on this research, we sought to investigate whether consumption of this probiotic could reverse endothelial dysfunction in a diet-induced obesogenic mouse model.
Our findings reveal that a Bacillus subtilis probiotic was able to partially attenuate obesity-related endothelial dysfunction in male mice, independent of changes in body weight or global microbiome alterations. This suggests that this Bacillus subtilis strain may be a promising therapeutic target for addressing endothelial dysfunction in the context of obesity. Our current analyses are focused on examining the putative mechanism(s) underlying this improvement via a novel co-culture cell model.
Tell us about your research and what impact you hope it will have.
Our laboratory’s primary focus is to comprehend the role of gut microbiota in regulating vascular function. We are carrying out extensive research on how gut-targeted interventions can help improve endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in the context of obesity. Our aim is to delve deeper into the mechanisms that govern the influence of probiotics on physiological processes. We hope that our research will contribute to the development of effective interventions to enhance vascular health. By achieving this, we can develop targeted interventions to improve the health outcomes of millions of people who suffer from obesity-related vascular complications
What does receiving this award mean to you?
I am incredibly humbled to receive this award, which is a testament to the relevance and impact of the research that my lab has been performing to improve gut and vascular health. It is a recognition of the hard work and dedication that my team has put into our research, day in and day out. We are gratified to see that our efforts have not gone unnoticed and that the CSU research community values the work we do. This award reinforces our commitment to continue conducting research that can make a positive impact on improving health outcomes for those suffering from vascular complications.
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
