Mapuana Antonio , DrPH
Assistant ProfessorOffice of Public Health Studies, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work – University of Hawaii Manoa
Personal Email: antoniom@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Dr. Mapuana Antonio is a Native Hawaiian Assistant Professor, with a joint position in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health at the Office of Public Health Studies and in Human Nutrition at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Dr. Mapuana’s research interests include general health and resilience of Native Hawaiians, determinants of health of Native Hawaiians and Indigenous Peoples, community-based participatory research, and chronic disease prevention (including obesity and diabetes prevention).
Recent Publications
- Keaulana, S., Antonio, M., Schoch, H., Banna, J. (2019). A Literature Review of the Role of Mindfulness Practices in Nutrition for Mothers and Their Children. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/
1559827619866815. - Townsend Ing, C., Antonio, M., Ahn, H. J., Cassel, K., Dillard, A., Kekauoha, B. P., & Kaholokula, J. K. (2019). An examination of the relationship between discrimination, depression, and hypertension in Native Hawaiians. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 10(3), 249-257. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/
aap0000151. - Kaholokula, J. K., Antonio, M. C. K., Ing, C. K. T., Hermosura, A., Hall, K. E., Knight, R., & Wills, T. A. (2017). The effects of perceived racism on psychological distress mediated by venting and disengagement coping in Native Hawaiians. BMC Psychology, 5, 2. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-
017-0171-6. - Antonio, M. C. K., Hyeong, J. A., Townsend Ing, C., Dillard, A., Cassel, K., Kekauoha, B. P., Kaholokula, J. K. (2016). Self-reported experiences of discrimination and depression in Native Hawaiians. Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 75,9, 266-272. PMID: 27688952.
Jinan Banna , PhD, RD, CDN
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: jcbanna@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Nutrition education, program evaluation, community nutrition, child and adolescent nutrition.
Recent Publications
- Banna JC, Richards R, Jones B, Anderson A, Reicks M, Cluskey M, Gunther C, Hongu N, Lora K, Misner S, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Wong SS, Lim E. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(3):E981.
- Holmes H, Palacios C, Wu Y, Banna JC. Effect of a short message service intervention on excessive gestational weight gain in a low-income population: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1428.
- Fialkowski MK, Calabrese A, Tillinghast B, Titchenal A, Meinke W, Banna JC, Draper J. Open educational resource textbook impact on students in an introductory nutrition course. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2020;52(4):359-368.
Recent Grants
- Can mHealth, an app that measures skin carotenoid, work as an optimal biomarker for health and key motivator for F&V intake? Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. 2018-2019. Banna J, Mentor (Undergraduate PIs:Chowdhury, Nahian & Langfelder, Gemady)
- A secondary data analysis of the quality of a unique diet quality index score with infants in Puerto Rico and Hawaii to assess diet quality. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. 2018-2019. Banna J, Mentor (Undergraduate PI: Ramirez, Jessica)
- Child Health Assessment in the Pacific Summer (CHAPS) Fellowship. United States Department of Agriculture. 2016-2019. Banna J, Mentor (PI: Novotny, Rachel and Fialkowski, Marie)
- Preventing excessive gestational weight gain via short mobile messages in WIC. 2017-2018. National Insitutes of Health. Banna J, PI
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Christine Crosby (PhD Nutrition)
- Asuka Suzuki (PhD Nutrition). Characterization of parental practices supporting positive eating behaviors of adolescents in Hawai'i.
Jean Butel , PhD
Jr ResearcherDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Phone: 808-956-4124 Work Email: jbutel@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Community Nutrition, Community Engagement
Recent Publications
- Butel, Jean, et al. “Community social network pattern analysis: Development of a novel methodology using a complex, multi-level health intervention.” UTS ePress, vol. 14, no. 1, 2021 May, Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement, Article ID 7485
- Butel, J., Braun, K., Nigg, C., Davis, J., Boushey, C., Leon-Guerrero, R., Bersamin, A., Coleman, P., Fleming, T., Novotny, R. (2019) Implementation Strategies And Barriers To Native Hawaiian And Other Pacific Islanders Community Interventions: A Cross-Case Study Of The Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program. Asian American Journal of Psychology. 10(3), 282-291.
- Butel, J., Braun, K., Nigg, C., Davis, J., Boushey, C., Leon-Guerrero, R., Bersamin, A., Coleman, P., Fleming, T., Novotny, R. (2019) Estimating Intervention Dose Of The Multilevel Multisite Children’s Healthy Living Program Intervention Translational Behavioral Medicine. DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibz073
Monica Esquivel , PhD RDN CSSD
Assistant Professor & Dietetics Program DirectorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Phone: 808-956-8691 Personal Email: monicake@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
child health, food security, food access
Recent Publications
- Esquivel MK. Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Women: The Latest Recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 and Practice Implications. Am J Lifestyle Medicine. March 2021.
- Greenberg JA, Luick B, Alfred JM, Barber LR, Bersamin A, Coleman P, Esquivel M, Fleming T, Leon Guerrero RT, Hollyer J, Lorring Johnson E, Novotny R, Remengesau S, Yamanaka A. The affordability of a thrifty food plan-based market basket in the United States-affiliated Pacific Region. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020 79(7).
- Esquivel MK, Higa A, Hitchens M, Shelton C, Okihiro M. Keiki produce prescription (KPRx) program feasibility study to reduce food insecurity and obesity risk. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020; 79(5).
- Esquivel M, Sinclair KA, Townsend Ing C, Hawley N, Haggard-Duff LK, Kaholokula JK. Diabetes disparities and promising interventions to address diabetes in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Current Diabetes Reports. 2019:19(5).
Recent Grants
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences- Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) P20, Integrative Center for Precision Nutrition and Human Health. Role: Research project leader/Junior investigator for community clinical trial- Keiki Produce Prescriptions
- Partners in Excellence for Leadership in MCH Nutrition. Health Resources & Services Administration- Maternal & Child Health, MCH Workforce Development (grant no T79MC00013)
- Traditional and New Lifestyle Interventions for Breast Cancer Prevention (TANICA). Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (National Cancer Institute, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, grant numbers U54CA143727 and U54CA143728 PIs Neal Palafox, Randall Holcombe, Rachael Leon Guerrero, Margaret Hattori-Uchima) Pre Pilot award
- Career Development Support for R21- like project, “Farmacy Pediatric Produce Prescription for Food Insecurity and Health Disparities.” Supported by Ola HAWAII infrastructure (NIH NIMHD U54MD007601 PIs Jerris Hedges and Norren Mokuau)
Current Graduate Students
- Cherese Shelton (PhD), Food and Nutrition Education Activity Kits
- Samantha Garrido (MS), Eating Disorders and Social Media
- Bernice Delos Reyes (MS), Nutrition Intervention for Reducing Breast Cancer Recurrence
- Hannah Shai (PhD), Food Systems
- Andrea Cesarek (MS- ISPP), TBD
- Michael Yanos (MS-ISPP), Campus Food Insecurity
- Brittney Gallardo (MS-ISPP), TBD
Yanghua “Sunny” He , PhD
Assistant ProfessorCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Phone: 808-956-7090 Work Email: yanghua.he@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
1. (Epi-)genomics in livestock animal production 2. Impacts of climate changes on livestock production 3. Nutrigenomics/microbiome: studying mechanisms of how different diets contribute to phenotypes.
Recent Publications
- Mandeep Adhikari, Ryan J Longman, Thomas W Giambelluca, C.N. Lee, Yanghua He*. Climate change impacts shifting landscape of the dairy industry in Hawai`i. Translational Animal Science, 2022. txac064, https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txac064
- Jose Carrillo; Ying Bai; Yanghua He; Yaokun Li; Wentao Cai; Derek M. Bickhart; George Liu; Scott M. Barao; Tad Sonstegard; Jiuzhou Song. Growth curve, blood parameters and carcass traits of grass-fed Angus steers. Animal. 2021 Oct 29;15(11):100381. PubMed Central PMID: 34757288
- Cunling Jia, Ying Bai, Jianan Liu, Wentao Cai, Lei Liu, Yanghua He, and Jiuzhou Song. Metabolic Regulations by lncRNA, miRNA, and ceRNA Under Grass-Fed and Grain-Fed Regimens in Angus Beef Cattle. Front. Genet., 04 March 2021. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7969984
- Xi Wang, Xi Li, Sujun Wu, Kerong Shi, Yanghua He. DNA methylation and transcriptome comparative analysis for Lvliang Black goats in distinct feeding pattern reveals epigenetic basis for environment adaptation. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment 2021 v.35 no.1, pp. 788-795. Catalog777040,
- Bo Han, Yi Ding, Huanmin Zhang, Li Zhang, Chunfang Zhao, Ning Yang, and Jiuzhou Song. LincGALMD1 regulates viral gene expression in the chicken. Frontiers in Genetics, 10:1122. 2019 doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01122
Current Graduate Students
Natalie Deans, M.S. Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences Mandeep Adhikari, Ph.D. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
Kacie K.H.Y. Ho , PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: kacieho@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Bioactive compounds, bioavailability, food structuring, colloids for nutrient and bioactive stabilization or delivery
Recent Publications
- Li, G., Cao, Z., Ho, K. K.H.Y., & Zuo, Y. Y. (2022). Quantitative determination of the hydrophobicity of nanoparticles. Analytical Chemistry, 94, 4, 2078-2086. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04172
- Ho, K. K.H.Y., & Redan, B. W. (2021). Impact of thermal processing on the nutrients, phytochemicals, and metal contaminants in edible algae. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(2), 508-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1821598
- Laurora, A., Bingham, J. P., Poojary, M. M., Wall, M. M., & Ho, K. K.H.Y. (2021). Carotenoid composition and bioaccessibility of papaya cultivars from Hawaii. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 101, 103984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2021.103984,
- Schroën, K., San Martín-González, M. F., & Berton-Carabin, C. C. (2018). Synergistic and antagonistic effects of plant and dairy protein blends on the physicochemical stability of lycopene-loaded emulsions. Food Hydrocolloids, 81, 180-190.
Current Graduate Students
- Wanderley Vital de Sousa Jr, MS Food Science
- Dongjun Xie, MS Food Science
Rajesh Jha , PhD
Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: rjha@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Monogastric Animal Nutrition. Gut Heath and Physiology, Feed and Feed Additive Evaluation.
Recent Publications
- Das. P. Mishra, and R. Jha (2021). In ovo feeding as a tool for improving performance and gut health of poultry: a review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8:754246.
- Singh, B. Mishra, M. R. Bedford, and R. Jha (2021). Effect of supplemental xylanase and xylooligosaccharides on production performance and gut health variables of broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 12:98.
- Yadav, K. D. Caliboso, J. E. Nanquil, J. Zhang, H. Kae, K. Neupane, B. Mishra, and R. Jha (2021). Cecal microbiome profile of Hawaiian feral chickens and pasture-raised broiler (commercial) chickens determined using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Poultry Science, 100:101181.
- Jha and P. Mishra (2021). Dietary fiber in poultry nutrition and their effects on nutrient utilization, performance, gut health, and on the environment: a review. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 12:51.
- Jha, R. Das, S. Oak, and P. Mishra (2020). Probiotics (Direct-fed microbials) in poultry nutrition and their effects on nutrient utilization, growth and laying performance, and gut health: A systematic review. Animals, 10(10):1863.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Razib Das (PhD, HNFAS home): Nutritional Sciences
- Pravin Mishra (MS, HNFAS home): Animal Sciences
Soojin Jun , PhD
Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: soojin@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Emerging food processing and packaging technologies, Food nanotechnologies, and Biosensors.
Recent Publications
- Lee, S.H., Yamada, K., and Jun. S. 2013. Ultraviolet Radiation Assisted with Ohmic Current for Microbial Inactivation in Apple Juice. Transactions of the ASABE 56(3): 1085-1091.
- Nguyen, L.T., Choi W., Lee, S.H., Jun, S. 2013. Exploring the Heating Patterns of Multiphase Foods in a Continuous Flow, Simultaneous Microwave and Ohmic Combination Heater. Journal of Food Engineering 116(1): 65-71.
- Lu, L. Chee, G., Yamada, K., and Jun, S. 2013. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic technique with a functionalized microwire sensor for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 42: 492-495.
Recent Grants
- 2013, USDA/NIFA, AFRI, Novel Freezing Technique using Combined Pulsed Electric and Magnetic Fields to Maintain the Qualities of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
- 2009, USDA-AFRI, Development of Combined Continuous-Flow Microwave and Pulsed Ohmic Heating Technologies for Rapid and Uniform Heating of Multiphase Foods.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Natthakan Rungraeng (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
- Seung Hyun Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food processing
- Jin Hong Mok (MS, HNFAS home): Food freezing
- Kara Yamada (MS, HNFAS home): Biosensor
- Inae Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
- Tim Shafel (MS, HNFAS home): Food processing and chemistry
Yong Soo Kim , PhD, MS
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Science, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: ykim@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Improving animal growth performance and carcass composition, myostatin as potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, meat quality characteristics of locally produced forage-finished beef, innovative ways to improve the marketability of low-value cuts of the forage-finished carcasses.
Recent Publications
- S.B. Lee, R. Choi, S.K. Park, and Y.S. Kim. 2014. Production of bioactive chicken follistatin315 in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98:10041- 10051.
- W.Y. Haq, S.K. Kang, S.B. Lee, H.C. Kang, Y.J. Choi, C.N. Lee and Y.S. Kim. 2013. High-level soluble expression of porcine myostatin propeptide in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 97(19):8517-27.
- Sang Beum Lee, Jeong Hwan Kim, Hyung-Joo Jin, Il Shik Shin, and Yong Soo Kim, 2013. Highyield expression and purification of bioactive flatfish (Paralichthys olivaceus) myostatin-1 prodomain in Escherichia coli, American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 8 (3):195-201.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Dong Hyuck Choi, MS in Molecular Biosciences and Biosystem’s Engineering (MBBE) (Spring 2012 – current)
- Arthur Wong, PhD in MBBE (Fall 2010 –current)
Kate Larson , PhD
Affiliate Graduate FacultyDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: klarson7@hawaii.edu Personal Email: kate.claycombe@gmail.com
Research Interests
Nutritional Immunology, Nutritional Epigenetics, Maternal Dietary Effects on Offspring Obesity, and Indigenous Diet and Inflammatory Diseases.
Recent Publications
- Claycombe-Larson KJ, Bundy AN, Kuntz T, Hur J, Yeater KM, Casperson S, Brunelle DC, Roemmich JN., Effect of a maternal high-fat diet with vegetable substitution on fetal brain transcriptome, J Nutr Biochem. 2022 Oct;108:109088. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.109088
- Claycombe-Larson K, Singh B, Bundy AN, Brunelle D, Bukowski MR, Roemmich JN, J Nutr Biochem. 2022 Oct 13;114:109162. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.109162.
- Bukowski MR, Singh BB, Roemmich JN, Claycombe-Larson KJ, Lipidomic Analysis of TRPC1 Ca2+-Permeable Channel-Knock Out Mouse Demonstrates a Vital Role in Placental Tissue Sphingolipid and Triacylglycerol Homeostasis Under Maternal High-Fat Diet., Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 10;13:854269. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.854269.
- Claycombe-Larson KJ, Bundy A, Lance EB, Darland DC, Casperson SL, Roemmich, J., Postnatal exercise protects offspring from high-fat diet-induced reductions in subcutaneous adipocyte beiging in C57Bl6/J mice, J Nutr Biochem. 2022 Jan;99:108853. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2021.108853.
- Crouse MS, Caton JS, Claycombe-Larson KJ, Diniz WJS, Lindholm-Perry AK, Reynolds LP, Dahlen CR, Borowicz PP, Ward AK, Epigenetic Modifier Supplementation Improves Mitochondrial Respiration and Growth Rates and Alters DNA Methylation of Bovine Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Cultured in Divergent Energy Supply. Front Genet. 2022 Feb 24;13:812764. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.812764.
Recent Grants
- NIH COBRE, Historical trauma and resilience as a biological state and its association with the effects of the traditional Indigenous food chokeberry, UND, 2021-2026, Co-Investigator
- NIH COBRE, Stress and Health in American Indian Pregnancies, UND, 2021-2026, Co-Investigator
- USDA Agricultural Research Service Project #3062-51000-054-00D, 2019-2024, PI
- USDA NIFA, Maternal Nutrition, Epigenetic Modifiers, And Programming Of Fetal Organ Development In Beef Cattle, 2019-2014, Collaborator
- NIH COBRE Epigenomics of Development and Disease, UND, 2019-2024, Collaborator
- USDA NIFA, Synergistic effects of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and anthocyanins in inflammation-associated obesity and insulin resistance, 2018-2023, Consultant
- USDA Agricultural Research Service Project #3062-51000-052-00D, 2014-2019, PI
Mi-Jeong Lee , PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: leemj7@hawaii.edu
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Qing X. Li , PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Phone: 808.956.2011 Work Email: qingl@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Alzheimer’s, Anti-obesity, Agricultural chemistry, Phytopharmaceuticals, Proteomics
Recent Publications
- Sun, B.; Tan, D.; Pan, D.; Baker, M.R.; Liang, Z.; Wang, Z.; Lei, J.; Liu, S.; Hu, C.Y. Li, Q.X. 2021. Dihydromyricetin imbues anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells via direct interactions with 78-kDa glucose regulated protein. The Journal of Nutrition 151(7): 1717-1725.
- Zhang, Z.; Tan, X.; Sun, X.; Wei, J.; Li, Q.X.; Wu, Z. 2022. Isoorientin alleviates Alzheimer’s disease related hallmarks via relieving the dysfunction of oral and gut microbiota in APP/PS1 model mice. The Journal of Nutrition. 152(1): 140-152.
- Xu, M.; Lantz, M.J.; Nichols, R.; Li, Q.X. 2022. Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of a semi-synthetic isoorientin-based GSK-3β inhibitor in lipopolysaccharide-activated microglial cells. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 13(1): 43-52.
- Wang, L.; Huang, M.; Wu, Z.; Huang, M.; Yan, Y.; Song, B.; Li, X.; Li, Q.X. 2022. Methyl eugenol binds recombinant gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein from the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentali. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 70: 4871-4880.
Recent Grants
• NIH/NCI R01 HD084633-01 (Co-I) An integrative omics approach to identify biomarkers related to preeclampsia and breast cancer risks in offspring. 7/2016-7/2022 • HI DOA 69854 (PI) Pesticide fate and leachability assessment project. 11/2021 – 10/2026 • Saudi Arabia DRI 78 (PI) Study on the degradation of benzo[a]pyrene by thermophilic, acidophilic and alkaliphilic microbes isolated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2022Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Chelsea Miller (PhD, Molecular biosciences and bioengineering), Alzheimer’s drug discovery
- Kandria Driskill (MS, Molecular biosciences and bioengineering), Coral bleaching
Yong Li , PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: liyong@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Food Microbiology, novel microbial detection methods, sanitation techniques, natural antimicrobials, probiotics, prebiotics and gut health
Recent Publications
- Wu, B., Hu, J.S., and Li, Y. 2022. Development of an ultra-sensitive single-tube nested PCR assay for rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni in ground chicken. Food Microbiology 106: 104052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2022.104052
- Dong, L. Wall, M., and Li, Y. 2022. Aqueous chlorine dioxide generated with organic acids have higher antimicrobial efficacy than those generated with inorganic acids. International Journal of Food Microbiology 369: 109632. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109632
- Wu, B., Liu, X., Nakamoto, S.T., Wall, M., and Li, Y. 2022. Antimicrobial activity of ohelo berry (Vaccinium calycinum) Juice against Listeria monocytogenes and its potential for milk preservation. Microorganisms 10: 548. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030548 Journal of Food Science 76:M234-237.
Recent Grants
- PI. Exploring the prebiotic potential of tropical commodities. USDA-ARS. 2018-2023
- Co-PI, with Jun, S (PI) and Ho, K. Electric and magnetic field-based supercooling technology to ensure the freshness in the food supply chain. USDA-AFRI. 2021-2023
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Lianger Dong (PhD Nutritional Sciences)
- Biyu Wu (PhD Nutritional Sciences)
Birendra Mishra , PhD, MS, DVM
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Personal Email: bmishra@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Genetic and hormonal regulation of egg formation in poultry Effects of nutrition and Environmental stress on reproductive health (Poultry and Cattle) Effects of space radiation on reproductive health
Recent Publications
- Mishra B, and Luderer U (2019). Reproductive Hazards of Space Travel in Women and Men Reproduction. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 154:123–133.
- Mishra B, Sah N, Wasti, S (2019). Genetic and Hormonal Regulation of Egg Formation in the Oviduct of Laying Hens. Poultry, ISBN, 978‐1‐78923‐820‐4.
- Sah N, Kuehu DL, Khadka VS, Deng Y, Peplowska K, Jha R, Mishra B (2018). RNA sequencing-based analysis of the laying hen uterus revealed the novel genes and biological pathways involved in the eggshell mineralization. Scientific Reports 8 (1), 1-12.
Recent Grants
- Improvement of Reproductive efficiency in Hawaiian cattle funded by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (06/1/19-05/30/21)
- Poultry Production Systems and Well-being: Sustainability for Tomorrow funded by USDA/NIFA Multistate Hatch Research Grant (09/1/19-08/30/21)
Current Graduate Students
- Sanjeev Wasti, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Bindu Adhikari, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Mahfuz Rahman Adnan, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Angeline Lee, Biology major/Premed, UH Manoa
Pratibha Nerurkar , PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: pratibha@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Alternative medicine and metabolic disorders
Recent Publications
Professor & Graduate ChairHuman Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
Work Email: novotny@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
global nutrition, nutrition transition, nutrition assessment
Recent Publications
- Novotny R, Yamanaka A, Butel J, Boushey CJ, Dela Cruz R, Aflague T, Coleman, P, Shallcross L, Fleming T, Wilkens LR. Maintenance Outcomes of the Children’s Healthy Living Program on Overweight, Obesity, and Acanthosis Nigricans Among Young Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(6):e2214802. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14802
- Novotny R, Davis J, Butel J, Boushey CJ, Fialkowski MK, Nigg DR, Braun KL, Leon Guerrero RL, Coleman P, Bersamin A, Areta A, Barber LR, Belyeu-Camacho T, Greenberg J, Fleming T, Delacruz-Talbert E, Yamanaka A, Wilkens LR. Effect of the Children’s Healthy Living program on Young Child overweight, obesity and acanthosis nigricans in the US affiliated Pacific region: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(6):E183896. DOI:10.1001/JAMAnetworkopen.2018.3896
- Novotny R, Li F, Leon Guerrero R, Coleman P, Tufa A, Bersamin A, Deenik J, Wilkens LR. Dual burden of malnutrition in US Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions in the Children’s Healthy Living Program. BMC Public Health (2017) 17:483; DOI 10.1186/s12889-017-4377-6.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Michelle (Shelly) Laguana, PhD Nutritional Sciences. Assessing food consumption patterns of young children on Guam through the development of a culturally appropriate food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
- Rica Anne Dela Cruz. PhD Public Health. Influences of obesity-related health behaviors among children in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
- Pauline McFall. PhD Nutritional Sciences. Diet and nutrition transition in American Samoa.
Jenee Odani , DVM
Associate Specialist, Extension Veterinarian, Pre-Vet AdvisorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: jsodani@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Diseases of terrestrial animals & aquatic livestock; veterinary anatomic pathology including disease pathogenesis, disease diagnostic techniques, histology and histopathology.
Recent Publications
- Cadmus, K., Mete, A., Harris, M., Anderson, D., Sato, Y., Helm, J., Boger, L., Odani, J., Ficken, M., Pabilonia, K.1 (2019). Causes of mortality in backyard poultry in eight states in the United States. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostics Investigation, 31(3):318-326.
- Accepted, in press: Odani, J.1, Sox, E., Coleman, W., Jha, R., Malik, R. First documented cases of canine neuroangiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hawai‘i. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.
- Odani JS, Blanchard PC, Adaska JM, Moeller RB, Uzal FA, “Malignant edema in postpartum dairy cattle”, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2009, November; 21(6):920-924.
Caleb Reichhardt , PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Phone: 808-956-7691
Research Interests
Livestock Management. Skeletal Muscle Growth. Livestock Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Strategies
Recent Publications
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: mariekf@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Populations, Nutritional Assessment, Nutrition Education for Underserved Populations, Infant Nutrition
Recent Publications
- Fialkowski MK, Kai J, Young C, Langfelder G, Ng-Osorio J, Shao Z, Zhu F, Kerr DA, Boushey CJ. An Active Image-Based Mobile Food Record Is Feasible for Capturing Eating Occasions among Infants Ages 3-12 Months Old in Hawai'i. Nutrients. 2022 Mar 3;14(5):1075. doi: 10.3390/nu14051075. PMID: 35268049; PMCID: PMC8912647.
- Kai J, Chen JJ, Braun KL, Kaholokula JK, Novotny R, Boushey CJ, Fialkowski MK. Associations between Cultural Identity, Household Membership and Diet Quality among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants in Hawai'i. Children (Basel). 2022 Jan 2;9(1):48. doi: 10.3390/children9010048. PMID: 35053673; PMCID: PMC8774442.
- Fialkowski MK, Ng-Osorio J, Kai J, Swafford K, Langfelder G, Young CGL, Chen JJ, Zhu FM, Boushey CJ. Type, Timing and Diversity of Complementary Foods Among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants. Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2020; 79(5 Suppl 1): 127 – 134.
- Fialkowski MK, Fonseca-Smith T, Pinto POEK, Ng-Osorio J. Native Hawaiian Complementary Feeding Practices as Told by Grandparents: A Transgenerational Experience. Curr Dev Nutr. 2020 May 26;5(Suppl 4):40-53. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa086. PMID: 34222766; PMCID: PMC8242222.
Recent Grants
- U24 CA268228 Boushey (PI); Role: Co-Investigator 1/12/2022-12/31/2026 Traditional and New Dietary Assessment Methods (TANDAM) for Personalized Nutrition
- R01 HD103885 Shepherd (MPI); Role: Co-Investigator 7/1/2021-6/30/2026 Quantifying Pediatric Body Shape in Clinical Research
Andre P. Seale , PhD
Associate Researcher and ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: seale@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
The effects of environmental changes on the physiology (I.e. growth, osmoregulation, metabolism and stress) of aquatic organisms with broader implications to aquaculture and biomedical research.
Recent Publications
- Woo, D. W., Malintha, G. H. T., Celino-Brady, F. T., Yamaguchi, Y., Breves, J. P., Seale, A. P. (2022). Tilapia prolactin cells are thermosensitive osmoreceptors. Am. J. Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00027.2022.
- Seale, L. A., Gilman, C. L., Zavacki, A. M., Larsen, P. R., Inokuchi, M., Breves, J. P., Seale, A. P. (2021) Regulation of thyroid hormones and branchial iodothyronine deiodinases during freshwater acclimation in tilapia. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 538: 111450.
- Inokuchi, M., Moorman, B., Yamaguchi, Y., Seale, A. P. (2021). Age-dependent decline in salinity tolerance in a euryhaline fish. Front. Aging. 2: 15.
- Celino-Brady, F., Lerner, D. T., Seale, A. P. (2021). Experimental Approaches for Characterizing the Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Environmental Chemicals in Fish. Front. Endocrinol. 11:1170
- Seale, A. P., Pavlosky, K. K., Celino-Brady, F., Lerner, D. T. (2020). Sex, salinity and sampling period dependent patterns of growth hormone mRNA expression in Mozambique tilapia. Aquaculture. 519: 734766.
- Seale, A. P., Pavlosky, K. K., Celino-Brady, F., Yamaguchi, Y., Breves, J. P., Lerner, D. T. (2019). Systemic versus tissue-level modulation of prolactin signaling in a euryhaline teleost subjected to tidally changing salinities. J. Comp. Physiol.189, 581-594.
Recent Grants
- 2022-present PI: University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program omnibus grant; “Identifying the physiological responses to extreme environmental changes in native Hawaiian Sea cucumbers found in traditional fishponds”;
- 2019-present Co-PI: Advanced Aquaculture Collaborative Programs (NOAA); “Establishing a Hawaiʻi-Pacific Aquaculture Consortium: A Revitalization and Expansion of the Aquaculture Development Program”.
- 2018-present Co-PI; Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); “Establishing an aquaculture program at the University of Hawai‘i that leverages and integrates Land Grant and Sea Grant research, extension and education resources.
- 2018-present PI; National Science Foundation (IOS-1755016); “Collaborative Research: Identifying osmosensitive molecular targets using a unique vertebrate model”.
- 2017-2021 PI; National Institutes of Health (1R21DK111775-01); “Integrating Osmosensitivity and Autocrine Signaling in a Model for Osmoregulation”.
Current Graduate Students
- Tharindu Malintha (PhD, Nutritional Sciences), Environmental regulation of transcription factors in fish.
- Ryan Chang (MS, Animal Science), Effects of salinity on the stress response in fish.
- Tyler Goodearly (PhD, Nutritional Sciences), Environmental physiology of Sea Cucumbers.
- Reilly Merlo (MS, Animal Science), Effects of salinity on fish nutrition.