Smiti Gupta PhD
Smiti Vaid Gupta
I have had the privilege to make progressive contributions both in teaching and research, specifically in the area of nutrition, disease and metabolomics. In spite of the challenging economic environment, I have created a successful and sustainable research program, with substantial external funding, a respectable publication record and numerous presentations at local, national and international settings. This has been accomplished along with course and curriculum development,and considerable service at the departmental, university and community levels.
By educating, close mentoring, instilling enthusiasm and encouraging a team spirit, my team and I have enjoyed an active, diverse, fun and productive laboratory environment. I have successfully trained and graduated nine Ph.D., 20 M.S. students, together with mentoring a host of undergraduate (> 40) students who worked in my laboratory on directed research projects, honors thesis or to gain research experience.
In addition, we have been able to serve the community by hosting, training and perhaps inspiring (!) high school students over the summer semesters from various communities in Metro Detroit.
Research interest(s)/area of expertise
Metabolomics in nutrition and disease
The interdisciplinary approach towards my research interests encompasses and connects the diversity of my academic background (M.S. in chemistry; Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Science, postdoctoral/biotech industry experience, lipoprotein metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation). Thus, my team investigates the effect of dietary bioactive compounds including curcumin, tocotrienols, garcinol and palm polyphenolics in the potential prevention and/or treatment of disease progression. Metabolomics is inculcated into my research matrix to scrutinize the efficacy of the bioactive compounds in the respective disease models. In addition, it serves as a sophisticated tool for the development of potential non-invasive, early risk biomarkers of disease or its progression. Non-omic methods including gene and protein expression analysis, microRNA profile modulation are also evaluated and correlated with changes in the metabolomic profiles to get a deeper mechanistic understanding.
Metabolomics: My team uses 1H NMR spectroscopy in tandem with the power of multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), PLSDA, OPLS. Multiple regression analysis is also used for correlation of metabolomics with genomics or other omics data. We have optimized methods for plasma (human, rodent), urine (human, rodent), cell culture extracts (human, yeast), biological tissue extract.
Disease models investigated: Our research has been focused on lung and pancreatic cancer and more recently on Alzheimer's Disease. Both invitro, human cancer cell lines and invivo models of disease including mice, rats, hamster models have been utilized to evaluate various aspects of the research questions.
Collaborative work includes metabolomic analysis of samples from clinical studies (Sarcodoisis lung disease, renal disease, neonatatal patients), yeast cultures and drosophylla fly extracts. In this way, I have been been able to extend my expertise to the research community.
