Michael Rudolph, PhD

Biography

Dr. Rudolph is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center studying the developmental origins of obesity and its prevention. His lab investigates how maternal derived fatty acids (especially from mothers with metabolic dysfunction) might condition neonatal adipogenesis and future obesity/diabetes risk. His team developed several novel methods to elucidate the cellular and molecular diversity of adipocyte stem-like cells in mouse pups. Through customized flow cytometry, bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, and lipid mass spectrometry, they are beginning to understand the molecular and cellular cues that control developmental patterning of adipose tissue stem-like cells early in life. This includes the potential for differentiation and subtype heterogeneity, particularly during postnatal fat depot growth when metabolic programming is greatly influenced by infant dietary nutrients.

In conjunction with several clinical collaborations, Dr. Rudolph leverages ongoing studies of maternal obesity, human infant adipogenesis, milk fat quality, and composition of maternal fatty acid intake to build a bridge between basic and clinical research. In addition, owing to specific expertise in use of mass spectroscopy (lipid analysis/metformin quantification), he has applied these skills with other collaborators to investigate how cross talk between local fatty acid metabolism in obesity influences breast cancer growth and metastasis

Research Interests: Additional Profiles:

• Department Webpage
• OUHSC Research Profile