Research
Dr. Rayalam has worked in the areas of obesity, body weight regulation, phytochemicals
and adipocyte biochemistry for over 8 years. Her research interests include:
1) to study the adipocyte life cycle and to understand the interaction of adipocytes
with other cell types as an approach to address several problems associated with obesity;
2) to develop novel treatment strategies for obesity by inducing transdifferentiation
of white to beige adipocytes and to inhibit lipid accumulation in white adipocytes;
and
3) to identify combinations of phytochemicals and vitamins that have synergistic anti-adipogenic
effects with an ultimate goal of developing pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals for
prevention and treatment of obesity and associated disorders. Aging is accompanied
by an accumulation of adipocytes in bone marrow and Dr. Rayalam's other interest is
to understand the fat-bone interaction and to identify molecular targets for the prevention
of weight gain and bone loss associated with aging. Dr. Rayalam collaborates with
UGA to develop novel therapies for obesity and osteoporosis.
Grants
Title: Vitamin D and Phytochemicals for Prevention of Obesity and Osteoporosis (2012)
Funding source: PCOM Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $9,600
Status: complete
Title: Phytochemicals induce transdifferentiation of white to brown like adipocytes
(2012)
Funding source: Chief Science Officer Internal Funding, PCOM
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $16,500
Status: complete
Title: Anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and pro-osteogenic effects of phytochemicals
plus vitamin D in post-menopausal rat model (2014)
Funding source: Chief Science Officer Internal Funding, PCOM
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $9,600
Status: complete
Title: The search for compounds that stimulate thermogenesis and induce transdifferentiation
of white to beige adipocytes (2014)
Funding source: Chief Science Officer Internal Funding, PCOM
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $8,600
Status: complete
Title: Synergistic effects of phytochemicals and immunomodulatory glycans LNFPIII
on the beiging of adipocytes: a novel therapeutic approach for obesity (2016)
Funding source: PCOM Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $9,600
Status: complete
Title: Role of AMPK pathway in xanthohumol induced anti-obesity effects (2016)
Funding source: CSRO internal funding
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $13,000
Status: complete
Title: Synergistic anti-obesity effects of immunomodulatory glycans and phytochemicals
(2017)
Funding source: CSRO internal funding
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Amount: $10,000
Status: On going