Dr NIMESH MODY
Research Fellow
work
+44 (0)1224 273255
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n.mody@abdn.ac.uk
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Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences
College of Life Sciences & Medicine
University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building
Tillydrone Ave, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (1224) 273255 (direct line)
Independent Research Fellow (in Integrative Physiology)
B.Sc. Biochemistry, Ph.D. Biochemistry
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Personal Details
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Biography
(Intermediate) Basic-Research Fellow
- University of Aberdeen, Sept 2009-2013
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - University of Aberdeen, Sept 2007-present
Working closely with Prof. John Speakman, Integrative Physiology, Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences.
Prof. Barbara Kahn's laboratory, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
PhD (Biochemistry) - University of Dundee, Oct 1999 - Jul 2003
Supervisor : Prof. Sir Philip Cohen, MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit.
BSc (Biochemistry) - University College London, Oct 1995 - Jun 1998
First Class with Honours.
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Research Interests
Body mass regulation and glucose homeostasis related to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Obesity levels are rising worldwide to epidemic levels and this is of major concern to governments and health services, because obesity is often accompanied by serious co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With a concurrent rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and with around 80% of people being overweight at the time of diagnosis, obesity has been identified as the number one risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops from insulin resistance, which is characterised by impaired insulin action in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver. Over the past 15 years it has become apparent that adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ secreting many factors (adipokines), some of which have been directly implicated in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.
One such factor recently identified is the serum retinol-binding protein (Yang Q, Graham TE, Mody N, others and Kahn BB. Nature 2005, now cited over 500 times).
What is diabetes? - Great animation @ Diabetes UK.
Diabetes and the heart - information and video at British Heart Foundation.
Metabolic Syndrome e-poster @ Nature Medicine, from neuronal control of food intake to macrophage infiltration and adipose inflammation.
Understanding animal research - The public debate on animal research sometimes gets so heated that the facts can be overlooked. Learn more at this site.
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Current Research
Physiological and molecular link between obesity and insulin resistance in mouse models
We are studying the interplay between genetic background and environmental challenges that lead to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mice fed high-fat diet rapidly undergo many molecular and physiological changes such as gain adipose (fat) mass and become insulin resistant. Prolonged exposure to a high-fat diet leads to full blown obesity, severe insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and diabetes.
My research aims to provide further insight into the mechanism of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance and identify novel molecular target(s) for the development of new, more potent therapies to treat obesity and prevent diabetes (e.g. Preitner F*, Mody N*, others and Kahn BB. Long-Term Fenretinide Treatment Prevents High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity, Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Steatosis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009, * co-first authors).
For example we are using the latest and best high-resolution chemiluminescence imaging for western blotting to measure protein expression and insulin signalling changes.
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Collaborations
Dr Mirela Delibegovic (RCUK fellow in the Institute) - the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in obesity and diabetes.
Mammalian physiology groups monthly joint-lab meetings (Integrative Physiology, IBES)
- Caloric restriction to promote healthy ageing - Dr. Colin Selman
- Glucose and lipid homeostasis - Dr Mirela Delibegovic
Centre for the Study of Regulatory Variation and Disease - a University of Aberdeen wide collaborative effort will use the latest bioinformatic, genomic, molecular, biochemical, cellular and genetic techniques to understand human gene regulation and how it can go wrong in disease.
Invited speakers for obesity and diabetes seminars (2008 -2010)
Dr. Lora Heisler, University of
Cambridge, School of Biological SciencesDr. Nina Balthasar, University of Bristol, School of Medical Sciences
Dr. Satish Patel, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Graham Rena, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Dr. Kerry McInnes, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Cardiovascular Science
Dr. Kei Sakamoto, MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee
Dr. Nik Morton, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Cardiovascular Science
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Research Grants
British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship (2009-2013)Tenovus Scotland - small research grant (2011), Mathematical Understanding of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in mouse models. In collaboration with Scottish Crucible participant Liangxui Han (now School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology, University of Manchester).
1. A novel method to measure biomarkers of ageing and obesity
2. Novel preparation of food emulsions.
The Biochemical Society Summer Vacation Studentship - awarded to Petros Stathakos (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student).
European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) Travel Award (2009) to attend the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2009, 6th - 9th May, Amsterdam.Career Development Fellowship (2007-09)
College of Life Sciences & Medicine, University of Aberdeen.
American Diabetes Association - European Association for Study of Diabetes.
Postdoctoral Fellowship (2004-06)
American Heart Association (Northeast Affiliate).
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Teaching Responsibilities
Lecturer on "Animal Physiology, ZO3509" - 3rd year course for Zoology students.
Tutor on "BUGS tutorial course, BI1006" for 1st year Biology undergraduate students.
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Conference presentations
Diabetes & obesity: getting to the heart of the matter - Joint conference : The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Royal Society of Edinburgh Supported by The Caledonian Research Fund. (The Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, May 2010).
- Invited poster presentation
UK Adipose Tissue Group meeting (Astra Zeneca, Alderley Park, Dec 2009).
- Invited poster presentation
7th James Black Conference - Joint Meeting of The Physiological Society & British Pharmacological Society. "Integrative Pharmacology and Physiology: translating "omics" into functional and clinical applications (King's College London, Sep 2009).
- Invited poster presentation
Scottish Society for Experimental Medicine (Aberdeen, May 2009)
- Invited speaker
European Congress on Obesity 2009 (Amsterdam, May 2009)
- Invited speaker - "Fenretinide prevents high fat diet induced obesity and associated hyperleptinemia and insulin resistance".
ACERO Symposium 13 (Aberdeen, May 2008)
- Invited speaker
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Memberships & other activities
Scottish Crucible 2010 - a professional & personal leadership and development programme developed for early to mid-career researchers in the Scottish research community.- The Biochemical Society -
Grants are available for stipends of £200 per week for 6 – 8 weeks,
and up to £1,600 in total, to support a summer placement in a lab for an
undergraduate student. Contact Dr. Nimesh Mody if you interested in getting valuable lab experience.
- Aberdeen Center for Energy Regulation & Obesity (ACERO)
- Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO), UK.
- Association for Early-Career Biology Researchers in Old Aberdeen, University of Aberdeen
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Staff/students
PhD studentship - George Mcilroy, BBSRC funded Oct 2010 - 2013, to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice.
BSc Hons students
- Petros Stathakos (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student) - awarded The Biochemical Society Summer Vacation Studentship, (Summer 2011). See Petros's blog on the Biochemical Soceity website and article in the "The Biochemist" magazine article pdf
- Katie Towle, 2010-11 Zoology, 10-week research project
- Claire Henderson, 2010-11 Intercalated BSc in Medical Sciences, 20-week research project
- Liam Mcallan, 2008-09 Zoology , 10-week research project and followed by further summer work experience, now performing PhD at Moorepark Food Research Center, Ireland.
Left to right :Petros Stathakos, Carl Owen (Delibegovic lab), Claire Henderson, George Mcilroy, Nimesh Mody, Mirela Delibegovic in the Zoology Bulilding.
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Impact of Research
Clinical trials
Effect of Fenretinide and Low-Dose Tamoxifen on Insulin Sensitivity in Premenopausal Women at HighRisk for Breast Cancer (Johansson et al 2008......Link)
A Randomized, Double-Blind Study of the Effects of Fenretinide Administered in Subjects With Obesity (Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Oct 2007 ....Link )
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Publications
Contributions to Journals
Articles
- Owen, C., Czopek, AJ., Agouni, A., Grant, L., Judson, RN., Lees, EK., McIlroy, GD., Göransson, O., Welch, A., Kendra Bence, K., Kahn, B., Neel, BG., Mody, N. & Delibegovic, M. (2012). 'Adipocyte-Specific Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Deletion Increases Lipogenesis, Adipocyte Cell Size and is a Minor Regulator of Glucose Homeostasis'. PLoS one, vol 7, no. 2, pp. e32700.
[Online] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032700
[Online] AURA: Delibegovic_Adipose1BKO_PLoS_2012.pdf - Hoggard, N., Agouni, A., Mody, N. & Delibegovic, M. (2012). 'Serum Levels of RBP4 and Adipose Tissue Expression Levels of PTP1B are Increased in Obese Men Resident in North East of Scotland Without Associated Changes in ER Stress Response Marker Genes'. International Journal of General Medicine, vol 2012:5, pp. 403-411.
[Online] DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S25879 - Mody, N., Agouni, A., McIlroy, GD., Platt, B. & Delibegovic, M. (2011). 'Susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in the APPSWE/PSEN1A246E mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease is associated with increased brain levels of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and basal phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein'. Diabetologia, vol 54, no. 8, pp. 2143-2151.
[Online] DOI: 10.1007/s00125-011-2160-2 - Agouni, A., Mody, N., Owen, C., Czopek, A., Zimmer, D., Bentirez-Alj, M., Bence, KK. & Delibegovic, M. (2011). 'Liver-specific deletion of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B improves obesity- and pharmacologically-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress'. Biochemical Journal, vol 438, no. 2, pp. 369-378.
[Online] DOI: 10.1042/BJ20110373 - Agouni, A., Owen, C., Czopek, AJ., Mody, N. & Delibegovic, M. (2010). 'In vivo differential effects of fasting, re-feeding, insulin and insulin stimulation time course on insulin signaling pathway components in peripheral tissues'. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol 401, no. 1, pp. 104-111.
[Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.09.018 - Preitner, F., Mody, N., Graham, TE., Peroni, OD. & Kahn, BB. (2009). 'Long-term Fenretinide treatment prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis'. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 297, no. 6, pp. E1420-E1429.
[Online] DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00362.2009 - Delibegovic, M. & Mody, N. (2009). 'Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in obesity and type 2 diabetes'. Acta Medica Saliniana, vol 38, no. 1, pp. 2-7.
- Mody, N., Graham, TE., Tsuji, Y., Yang, Q. & Kahn, BB. (2008). 'Decreased clearance of serum retinol-binding protein and elevated levels of transthyretin in insulin-resistant ob/ob mice'. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 294, no. 4, pp. E785-E793.
[Online] DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00521.2007 - Delibegovic, M., Bence, KK., Mody, N., Hong, E., Ko, HJ., Kim, JK., Kahn, BB. & Neelt, BG. (2007). 'Improved glucose Homeostasis in mice with muscle-specific deletion of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B'. Molecular and Cellular Biology, vol 27, no. 21, pp. 7727-7734.
[Online] DOI: 10.1128/MCB.00959-07 - Yan, Q., Yang, Q., Mody, N., Graham, TE., Hsu, C., Xu, Z., Houstis, NE., Kahn, BB. & Rosen, ED. (2007). 'The Adipokine Lipocalin 2 Is Regulated by Obesity and Promotes Insulin Resistance'. Diabetes, vol 56, no. 10, pp. 2533-2540.
[Online] DOI: 10.2337/db07-0007 - Yang, Q., Graham, TE., Mody, N., Preitner, F., Peroni, OD., Zabolotny, JM., Kotani, K., Quadro, L. & Kahn, BB. (2005). 'Serum retinol binding protein 4 contributes to insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes'. Nature, vol 436, no. 7049, pp. 356-62.
[Online] DOI: 10.1038/nature03711 - Mody, N., Campbell, DG., Morrice, N., Peggie, M. & Cohen, P. (2003). 'An analysis of the phosphorylation and activation of extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 (MKK5) in vitro'. Biochemical Journal, vol 372, no. 2, pp. 567-575.
[Online] DOI: 10.1042/BJ20030193 - Mody, N., Leitch, J., Armstrong, C., Dixon, J. & Cohen, P. (2001). 'Effects of MAP kinase cascade inhibitors on the MKK5/ERK5 pathway'. FEBS Letters, vol 502, no. 1-2, pp. 21-24.
- Mody, N., Hermans, E., Nahorski, SR. & Challiss, RA. (1999). 'Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation of the human type 1alpha metabotropic glutamate receptor by tunicamycin: effects on cell-surface receptor expression and function'. Neuropharmacology, vol 38, no. 10, pp. 1485-1492.
[Online] DOI: 10.1016/S0028-3908(99)00099-4
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