Tracey Woodlief, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Email: woodlieft18@ecu.edu
Voice: 252-744-2108
Education
- B.S. – East Carolina University – Biology
- M.S. – East Carolina University – Biology
- Ph.D. – East Carolina University – Bioenergetics and Exercise Science
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship – University of Pittsburgh
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship – Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship – East Carolina University
Research Interests
My research program explores the impact of exposure to environmental contaminants on bioenergetics at the whole-body level, as well as within the immune system, liver, and skeletal muscle. We seek to uncover novel mechanisms within metabolism, fuel utilization, inflammation, and immunology as they relate to public health.
Our research focus is on mechanisms to elucidate the molecular links between cell specific and whole-body bioenergetics and biological perturbations, such as diet, exercise, age, disease and toxicants. Altogether, we are especially interested in discerning how mitochondrial energetics respond to and/or drive health and disease within the population as a whole and within various subpopulations, such as between different ethnic groups, young versus old, certain disease states (diabetes, obesity, cancer), and in contaminant-exposed populations.
Selected Publications
- Bonet X, Moschovas MC, Onol FF, et al. The surgical learning curve for salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a prospective single-surgeon study. Minerva Urol Nefrol. December 2020. doi:10.23736/S0393-2249.20.04077-1
- Kwak H-B, Woodlief TL, Green TD, et al. Overexpression of Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase 5 Increases Fatty Acid Oxidation and Free Radical Formation While Attenuating Insulin Signaling in Primary Human Skeletal Myotubes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7). doi:10.3390/ijerph16071157
- Bonet X, Ogaya-Pinies G, Woodlief T, et al. Nerve-sparing in salvage robot-assisted prostatectomy: surgical technique, oncological and functional outcomes at a single high-volume institution. BJU Int. 2018;122(5):837-844. doi:10.1111/bju.14517
- Wefers JF, Woodlief TL, Carnero EA, et al. Relationship among physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and cardiometabolic risk factors during gastric bypass surgery-induced weight loss. Surg Obes Relat Dis Off J Am Soc Bariatr Surg. 2017;13(2):210-219. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.08.493
- Ogaya-Pinies G, Kadakia Y, Palayapalayam-Ganapathi H, et al. Use of Scaffolding Tissue Biografts To Bolster Vesicourethral Anastomosis During Salvage Robot-assisted Prostatectomy Reduces Leak Rates and Catheter Times. Eur Urol. 2018;74(1):92-98. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2016.10.004
- Den RB, Santiago-Jimenez M, Alter J, et al. Decipher correlation patterns post prostatectomy: initial experience from 2 342 prospective patients. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2016;19(4):374-379. doi:10.1038/pcan.2016.38
- Woodlief TL, Carnero EA, Standley RA, et al. Dose response of exercise training following roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: A randomized trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015;23(12):2454-2461. doi:10.1002/oby.21332
- Bikman BT, Zheng D, Kane DA, et al. Metformin Improves Insulin Signaling in Obese Rats via Reduced IKKbeta Action in a Fiber-Type Specific Manner. J Obes. 2010;2010. doi:10.1155/2010/970865
- Kane DA, Anderson EJ, Price JW 3rd, et al. Metformin selectively attenuates mitochondrial H2O2 emission without affecting respiratory capacity in skeletal muscle of obese rats. Free Radic Biol Med. 2010;49(6):1082-1087. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.06.022
- Bikman BT, Woodlief TL, Noland RC, et al. High-fat diet induces Ikkbeta and reduces insulin sensitivity in rats with low running capacity. Int J Sports Med. 2009;30(9):631-635. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1224174
- Anderson EJ, Lustig ME, Boyle KE, et al. Mitochondrial H2O2 emission and cellular redox state link excess fat intake to insulin resistance in both rodents and humans. J Clin Invest. 2009;119(3):573-581. doi:10.1172/JCI37048
- Noland RC, Woodlief TL, Whitfield BR, et al. Peroxisomal-mitochondrial oxidation in a rodent model of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;293(4):E986-E1001. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00399.2006
- Noland RC, Thyfault JP, Henes ST, et al. Artificial selection for high-capacity endurance running is protective against high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;293(1):E31-41. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00500.2006