Kathleen Axen
Professor/ Department Chairperson & Deputy Chair (Graduate Nutrition)
Health and Nutrition Sciences
Location: 4123 Ingersoll Hall
Phone: 718.951.5000 x1234
Fax: 718.951.4670
Email:
Professor Axen is a research scientist in the field of nutrition. She has been a full-time faculty member at Brooklyn College since 1983. She has taught a dozen different undergraduate and graduate courses in nutrition and has mentored many students in laboratory research, some of whom have completed their master's thesis with her. She has been the graduate deputy chairwoman (director) of the M.S. in Nutrition Program since its beginning in 1985. Her work at Columbia University focused on type 1 diabetes, in which auto-immune destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing cells accounts for massive metabolic impairments. Her 2.5-year post-doctoral research fellowship in endocrinology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine elucidated aspects of the signaling mechanism for insulin release.
Education:
Ph.D., Columbia University - 1980 (Nutritional Biochemistry)
M.S., Columbia University - 1975 (Human Nutrition)
B.S., Hunter College (CUNY) - 1974 (Home Economics / Dietetics)
Areas of Expertise:
Since she came to Brooklyn College, Professor Axen's research has mainly concerned type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of the disease. Since expression of type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with obesity, Axen has used animal models of obesity to study the development and treatment of the disease. She has focused recently on the effect of diet composition on the development of insulin resistance, a condition in which insulin is less effective in its metabolic actions.
Books and Publications
Axen KV, Harper MA, Kuo YF and Axen K. Very low-carbohydrate, high-fat, weight reduction diet decreases hepatic gene response to glucose in obese rats. Nutrition & Metabolism (2018) 15:54 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-018-0284-9
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
Nanobashvili K, Jack-Roberts C, Bretter R, Jones N, Axen K, Saxena A, Blain K, Jiang X. Maternal Choline and Betaine Supplementation Modifies the Placental Response to Hyperglycemia in Mice and Human Trophoblasts. Nutrients. 2018 Oct 15;10(10). pii: E1507. doi: 10.3390/nu10101507.PMID: 30326592 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
Jack-Roberts C, Joselit Y, Nanobashvili K, Bretter R, Malysheva OV, Caudill MA, Saxena A, Axen K, Gomaa A, Jiang X. Choline Supplementation Normalizes Fetal Adiposity and Reduces Lipogenic Gene Expression in a Mouse Model of Maternal Obesity.
Nutrients. 2017 Aug 18;9(8). pii: E899. doi: 10.3390/nu908089
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
Juha Nam, Esther Greenwald, Chauntelle Jack-Roberts, Tamara T Ajeeb, Olga V Malysheva, Marie A Caudill, Kathleen Axen, Anjana Saxena, Ekaterina Semernina, Khatiaanobashvili, Xinyin Jiang.Choline prevents fetal overgrowth and normalizes placental fatty acid and glucose metabolism in a mouse model of maternal obesity. 2017 Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 49:80-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.08.004. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
Kathleen V. Axen, Kate Russell, JoAnn Brown, Marianna A Harper, Keerteshwrya Mishra, Tahanne Distin, Kenneth Axen. High Olive Oil Intakes Enhance Carbohydrate Stimulation of Lipogenic Gene Expression in Rats. Diabetes (Abstract Supplement) 2016 (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2016
Walder, Deborah J., Marta Statucka, Maureen P. Daly, Kathleen Axen and Margalit Haber. "Biological Sex and Menstrual Cycle Phase Modulation of Cortisol Levels and Psychiatric Symptoms in a Non-clinical Sample of Young Adults." Psychiatry Research. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2012
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Longitudinal Adaptations to Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Reduction Diet in Obese Rats; Body Composition and Glucose Tolerance." Obesity (e-publication), January 7. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2010
Axen, K.V., J. Roddy, M. Griesinger, Y. Olufawo, A. Glassman, F. Bomide and K. Axen. "Carnitine Supplementation Fails to Enhance Fat Loss in Obese Rats Regardless of Diet Composition." Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society Obesity 18 (supplement 2): 149P. (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2010
"Animal Models of Obesity." Encyclopedia of Obesity. Ed. Kathleen Keller. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2008
Axen, K, K. Hallak, P. Phillips and K. Axen. "Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Reduction Diet Retards Loss of Visceral, Intramyocellular and Hepatic Fat in Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity 15, Suppl. 1: A41. (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2007
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Longitudinal Changes in Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats Fed Isocaloric High- vs. Very Low- Carbohydrate Diets"; and Miller, M., K.V. Axen, K. Axen, K. Clarke, V. Hallak, J. Hernandez and D. Jones. "Effects of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Leptin Sensitivity in Obese Rats." Obesity 14, Suppl. 1: A61 and A134. (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2006
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Very Low-Carbohydrate vs. Isocaloric High-Carbohydrate Diet in Dietary Obese Rats." Obesity 14: 1344-52. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2006
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Effect of Atkins Diet on Insulin Resistance and Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats." Obesity Research 13 Suppl.: A53. (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2005
Greenberg, J., K.V. Axen, R. Schnoll and C.N. Boozer. "Coffee, Tea and Diabetes: The Role of Weight Loss and Caffeine." International Journal of Obesity (London) 29: 1121-29. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2005
Axen, K.V., A. Khaneja and K. Axen. "Effects of High Polyunsaturated vs. High Saturated Fat Diets on Body Composition and Insulin Resistance in Rats." Diabetes 53, Suppl. 2: A592. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2004
Axen, K.V., A. Dikeakos and A. Sclafani. "High Dietary Fat Promotes Syndrome X in Non-Obese Rats." Journal of Nutrition 133: 2244-49. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2003
Axen, K.V., S. Vinokur and K. Axen. "Effects of Dietary Fat and Prolonged Fasting on Adipose and Non-Adipose Fuel Stores in Rats." Obesity Research 11 Suppl.: A67. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2003
Axen, K. and K.V. Axen. Illustrated Principles of Exercise Physiology. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2001
Axen, K.V., X. Li and A. Sclafani. "Miglitol (BAY m 1099) Treatment of Diabetic Hypothalamic-Dietary Obese Rats Improves Islet Rsponse to Glucose." Obesity Research 7: 83-89. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1999
Ackroff, K., A. Sclafani and K.V. Axen. "Diabetic Rats Prefer Glucose-Paired Flavors Over Fructose-Paired Flavors." Appetite 28: 73-83. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1997
Axen, K. and K.V. Axen. Physiology Coloring Workbook. New York: Princeton Review Publishing. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 1997
Axen,K.V. and R.Schnoll. "Nutritional Issues in the Frail Elderly." Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 11: 1-10. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1995
Axen, K.V., X. Li, K. Fung and A. Sclafani. "The VMH-Dietary Obese Rat. A New Model of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus." American Journal of Physiology 266: R921-28. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1994
"Nutrition in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease." Pulmonary Therapy and Rehabilitation; Principles and Practice. Eds. F. Haas and K. Axen. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 1991
Haas, F., M.C. Bishop, J. Salizar-Schicchi, K.V. Axen, D. Lieberman and K. Axen. "Effect of Milk Ingestion on Pulmonary Function in Healthy Asthmatic Subjects." Journal of Asthma 28: 347-53. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1991
"Cancer Cachexia." Death and Life 4: 4-5. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 1986
Axen, K.V., U.K. Schubart, A.D. Blake and N. Fleischer. "Role of Ca2+ in Secretogogue-Stimulated Breakdown of Phosphatidylinositol in Pancreatic Islets." Journal of Clinical Investigation 72: 13-21. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1983
Axen, K.V. and F.X. Pi-Sunyer. "Altered Insulin and Glucagon Secretion in Ethionine-Treated Rat Pancreases." American Journal of Physiology 243: E505-11. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1982
Axen, K.V. and F.X. Pi-Sunyer. "Reversal of Streptozotocin-Diabetes in Rats by Intra-Muscular Implantation of Cultured Islets." Transplantation 31: 439-41. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1981
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
PSC-CUNY Research Award Program (Enhanced Award), for "Does a High linoleic Acid Diet Cause Fatty Liver Despite Inhibition of Hepatic Fat Synthesis?" Principle investigator. July 2014 - June 2015. (Grants and Fellowships) 2014
National Institutes of Health, for "Metabolic Effects of Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight Reduction Diets on Obese Rats." Principal investigator. Direct costs, $300,000; total costs, $471,000. April 2010-March 2014. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Does Lowering Carbohydrate Mitigate Insulin Resistance Caused by a High-Fat Diet? A Study of Molecular Nutrition." July 2010-June 2011. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Developmental Trade-Off between Bone and Adipose Tissue." July 2009-June 2010. (Grants and Fellowships) 2009
Developing a STEM Curriculum for Early College Programs: A High School to College Continuum's Funding Agency: NSF, Division of Undergraduate Education. Principal investigator: Theodore Raphan; co-principal investigators: Kathleen Axen, Jennifer Basil and Sophia Perdikaris. May 15, 2007-April 30, 2009 + continuation. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Effect of Diet Composition on Preservation of Pancreatic Islet Function During Weight Loss." July 2008-June 2009. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein Diet on the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Rats." July 2006-June 2008. (Grants and Fellowships) 2007
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein Diet on the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Rats." July 2007-June 2008. (Grants and Fellowships) 2007
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Does a Long-Term Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet Alter Tissue Lipid and Protein Composition?" July 2006-June 2007. (Grants and Fellowships) 2006
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Effect of Very Low Carbohydrate Diet on Insulin Secretion." July 2005-June 2006. (Grants and Fellowships) 2005
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Do Trans Fatty Acids Promote the Development of the Metabolic Syndrome?" July 2004-June 2005. (Grants and Fellowships) 2004
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Control of Body Fat Distribution by Dietary Fat Composition." July 2003-June 2004. (Grants and Fellowships) 2003
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Does a High-Fat Diet Elevate Islet Triglyceride Content in Rats?" July 2000-July 2001. (Grants and Fellowships) 2000
Research Activities
Abstract submitted for presentation at 2011 Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement program PI conference. Washington, D.C., 2011. 2010
Preparation of manuscript with two Brooklyn College M.S. in nutrition students as co-authors: "Enhanced Responsiveness to Satiety Peptides in Rats Following a Low-Carbohydrate Weight Loss Diet." 2008
Preparation of SCORE proposal for resubmission in May 2009. 2008
Research mentor for MARC and Intel students. 2007
Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums
Kathleen V. Axen, Jo Ann Brown, Kate Russell, Keerteshwrya Mishra, Kadeem Thomas, and Kenneth Axen Short and Long-Term Effects of High Monounsaturated and High N-6 Polyunsaturated Fat Diets on Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Meeting of American Society for Nutritional Science. Boston June 2018 (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2018
Kathleen Axen, Marianna A Harper, Yu-Fu Kuo, Kenneth Axen. Effects of Isocaloric Energy-restricted Diets with Different Levels of Carbohydrate on Body Composition and Metabolism in Rats. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Societies for Experimental Biology, Chicago April 2017 (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2017
Kathleen V. Axen, Jo Ann Brown, Kate Russell, Keerteshwrya Mishra , Kadeem Thomas, Kenneth Axen. High Olive Oil vs. High Safflower Oil Diets Produce Different Metabolic Abnormalities in Rats. Accepted for Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Societies for Experimental Biology, San Diego April 2016. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2016
Kathleen V. Axen, Marianna A Harper, Tushara Edupghanti, JoAnn Brown, Kadeem Thomas, Kenneth Axen. Effect of High Linoleic Acid Diet on Carbohydrate-stimulated Expression of Lipogenic Genes. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Societies for Experimental Biology, Boston March 2015. FASEB J April 2015 29:248.8
(Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2015
Axen, Kathleen V., Marianna A. Harper, Yu-Fu Kuo and Kenneth Axen. "Short-term high-fat diet impairs regulation of hepatic lipogenesis in rats." Annual Meeting for Experimental Biology. April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2013
Axen, Kathleen, Marianna Harper and Kenneth Axen. "Effect of short and long-term high-fat diet on modulation of hepatic lipogenesis in rats." Annual Obesity Society Sessions. November. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2013
Axen, K.V., M.A. Harper, Y-F Kuo, S.D. Clarke, J. Grassman and K. Axen. "Effects of Dietary Obesity on Hepatic SREBP-1c, ChREBP and AMPK in Rats." Accepted for presentation at the Annual American Diabetes Association Meeting. Philadelphia. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Axen, K.V., M.A. Harper, Y. Kuo, S. Clarke, J. Grassman and K. Axen. "Effects of High-Fat Dietary Obesity on Hepatic Lipogenic Mechanisms in Rats." Submitted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Axen, Kenneth and Kathleen Axen. "Relationship Among Body Fat, Hepatic Lipid, and Intramuscular TAG During Weight Gain and Weight Loss." Submitted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Harper, Marianna A., Yu-Fu Kuo, Steven D. Clarke, Kenneth Axen and Kathleen Axen. "Dietary Obesity Impairs Regulation of Hepatic AMP-activated Kinase in Rats." Accepted for presentation at Experimental Biology. San Diego. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Kuo, Yu-Fu, Marianna A. Harper, Steven D. Clarke, Kenneth Axen and Kathleen Axen. "Effect of Dietary Fat on Carbohydrate Response Element Binding Protein in a Rat Model of Fatty Liver and Insulin Resistance." Accepted for presentation at Experimental Biology. San Diego. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Axen, Kathleen V., Vanessa R. Yingling, Joseph R. Vasselli, Tiffiny A. Butler, Julie Roddy and Kenneth Axen. "Effects of Dietary Fat and Vitamin D on Adipose Tissue and Bone Development in Female Weanling Rats." Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Axen, Kathleen, Marianna Harper and Kenneth Axen. "Relative Effectiveness of Different High-fat (55% kcal) Diets in Producing Obesity and Glucose Intolerance in Rats." Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Butler, Tiffiny A., Vanessa R. Yingling and Kathleen K. Axen. "Effect of High Fat and Low Fat Diets on Bone Structure and Strength During Puberty." American College of Sports Medicine. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Walder, Deborah J., Marta Statucka, Maureen P. Daly, Kathleen Axen and Margalit Haber. "Sex Differences and Menstrual Cycle Modulation of Cortisol and Psychiatric Symptoms." Society for Research in Psychopathology. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Axen, K.V., M. Miller, K. Mimberg, V. Hallak and K. Axen. "Long-Term Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Reduction Diet Diminishes Insulin Secretion in Isolated Islets from Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. Published in Obesity 17: 100S. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
"Long-Term Effects of Very Low Carbohydrate Diets on Dietary Obese Rats." Obesity Research Center Seminar, Columbia University. April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008
Axen, K.V., K. Mimberg, A. Glassman, N. Trasybule and K. Axen. "High Protein Content Impedes Loss of Body Fat by Isocaloric Very Low-Carbohydrate Diets in Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society. October. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2008
Axen, K.V., V. Hallak, M. Phillips and K. Axen. "Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Reduction Diet Retards Loss of Visceral, Intramyocellular and Hepatic Fat in Obese Rats." Brooklyn College Faculty Day, May 21. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008
"Effect of a Very Low Carbohydrate Diet on the Metabolic Syndrome." Columbia University Metabolic Seminar. March. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
Axen, K., K. Hallak, P. Phillips and K. Axen. "Very Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Reduction Diet Retards Loss of Visceral, Intramyocellular and Hepatic Fat in Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity 15, Suppl. 1: A41. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Effect of Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Insulin Resistance and Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats." Nutrition and Metabolism Society. New York, January. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2006
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Longitudinal Changes in Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats Fed Isocaloric High- vs. Very Low- Carbohydrate Diets." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2006
Miller, M., K.V. Axen, K. Axen, K. Clarke, V. Hallak, J. Hernandez and D. Jones. "Effects of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Leptin Sensitivity in Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2006
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Effect of Atkins Diet on Insulin Resistance and Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Vancouver, British Columbia, October. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2005
Axen, K.V., A. Khaneja and K. Axen. "Effect of Atkins Diet on Visceral Fat and Glycemic Control in Dietary Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Las Vegas, November. Published in Obesity Research 12, Suppl. 1: A120. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2004
Axen, K.V. and K. Axen. "Effect of Dietary Fat Composition on Visceral Fat Mass and Islet Secretory Response." Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association. New Orleans, June 15. Published in Diabetes 52, Suppl. 1: A388. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2003
Axen, K.V., A. Erazo, S. Warner and A. Sclafani. "Effect of Fasting and Lipid Availability on Islet Response to Glucose in Dietary Obese Rats." Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Quebec City, October. Published in Obesity Research 9, Suppl. 3: 158S. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2001
Professional Leadership
Chairwoman, Brooklyn College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Brooklyn College Radiation Safety Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007
Chairwoman, Brooklyn College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Brooklyn College Radiation Safety Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2006
Other Professional Activities
Faculty member, six seminar series on "Fat: In Your Food, In Your Body, In Your Health" for Brooklyn College STAR project. Spring. 2008
STAR Workshop (six weeks) presenter: "When Good Food Goes Superbad." Brooklyn College.
2008
