Richard Joseph Deckelbaum, MD

The major focus of Dr. Deckelbaum’s laboratory is to determine regulatory mechanisms for cell-lipid particle interaction, and cell cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. Current projects are defining the effects of lipid particle properties on their metabolism in the whole animal, and in cells, via receptor-mediated and receptor-independent pathways. Integrated with these studies are studies on how different lipids, omega-3 and other free fatty acids regulate gene expression and focus on genes and mechanisms affecting atherogenesis, myocardial infarction and stroke. Dr. Deckebaum’s initial research training as a postdoctoral fellow in biophysics using NMR, calorimetry, and X-ray techniques to study the structure of lipoproteins has allowed him throughout his career to understand the importance of physical structure of different lipids in the biochemistry and in the molecular biology of lipids and lipid metabolism. Having been funded continuously for over thirty years by NIH R01s and PPGs focusing on triglyceride emulsions, lipoprotein metabolism, and lipid metabolism in in vitro and in vivo, we have obtained very exciting results over the years showing that EPA/DHA rich diets have the ability to inhibit pathways associated with atherogenesis in four different rodent models. Our laboratory has shown that acute administration of omega-3 fatty acids also provides major neuro- and cardioprotection after stroke and myocardial infarction in rodent models. Of the pre- and postdoctoral trainees Dr. Deckelbaum has mentored over the past 30 years, over 45 now have full-time academic positions at universities or are heading nutrition-related roles in industry and government.