Michael Chumley

Professor Texas Christian University

  • Fort Worth TX

Research focus has been on the role of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.

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Texas Christian University

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Biography

Michael Chumley's research program focusses on the pathophysiology of aging-related neurological disorders. In particular, the program studies the relationship between inflammation, stress, and diet on the pathologies associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Michael works in a close collaboration with Dr. Gary Boehm in the Department of Psychology. Together, they investigating how stress, diet, exercise, and inflammatory events, lead to early markers of Alzheimer’s disease, including behavioral and cognitive changes.

Michael has a rich history in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. These students learn a number of molecular and cellular techniques such as numerous types of immunoassays, gene expression studies, histology and microscopy, and cell culture work. Students also may be involved with animal husbandry and behavioral and cognitive testing.

Areas of Expertise

Inflammation
Developmental Neurobiology
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Exercise Physiology
Modifiable Risk Factors

Accomplishments

Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community

2014

John V. Roach Honors College Professor of the Year

2013

Education

University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center

Ph.D.

Immunology

2000

University of Wyoming

M.S.

Exercise Physiology

1994

University of Wyoming

B.S.

Education

1987

Affiliations

  • Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Society for Neuroscience

Media Appearances

The Neurobiology of Aging

TCU Magazine  online

2015-09-23

Three professors in TCU’s College of Science and Engineering are using the tools of their respective academic disciplines to research the disease. Associate professor of biology Michael Chumley, assistant professor of chemistry Kayla Green and associate professor of psychology Gary Boehm formed the Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative to study the amyloid beta proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. They are researching how the proteins form and impair cognition as well as how that formation process might be interrupted.

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Faculty Q & A: Michael Chumley

TCU Magazine  online

2015-03-20

At the 142nd Convocation in September, the associate professor of biology received the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU community.

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Event Appearances

Panelist

(2022) Society for Neuroscience  San Diego, CA

Attendee

(2019) Society for Neuroscience  Chicago, IL

Attendee

(2018) Society for Neuroscience  San Diego, CA

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Research Grants

Building better antioxidants: virtual screening, synthesis, and characterization of multifunctional small molecules combining Nrf2 pathway activation and direct antioxidant activity,

National Institutes of Health

2022

Targeting oxidative stress in neurodegeneration using pyridol-derived small molecules,

National Institutes of Health

2018

Articles

A Synthetic Formula Amino Acid Diet Leads to Microbiome Dysbiosis, Reduced Colon Length, Inflammation, and Altered Locomotor Activity in C57BL/6J Mice

Microorganisms

2023

The effects of synthetic, free-amino acid diets, similar to those prescribed as supplements for (phenylketonuria) PKU patients, on gut microbiota and overall health are not well understood. n the current, multidisciplinary study, we examined the effects of a synthetically-derived, low-fiber, amino acid diet on behavior, cognition, gut microbiome composition, and inflammatory markers.

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Chronic sleep restriction increases soluble hippocampal Aβ-42 and impairs cognitive performance

Physiology & Behavior

2020

Currently, over 44 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). A common feature of AD is disrupted sleep. Sleep is essential for many psychological and physiological functions, though 35.3% of adults report getting less than 7 hours per night. The present research examined whether chronic sleep restriction would elevate hippocampal amyloid-beta1–42 expression or alter cognitive ability in adult C57BL/6 mice.

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Prolonged isolation stress accelerates the onset of Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology in 5xFAD mice despite running wheels and environmental enrichment

Behavioural Brain Research

2019

Research has demonstrated that stress can exacerbate AD pathology in transgenic mouse models of AD. The purpose of the present studies was to extend this work by determining whether a social stressor, isolation stress, would increase the number of Aβ plaques in 5xFAD + transgenic mice in comparison to group-housed controls, and accelerate the onset of cognitive deficits in contextual fear-conditioning.

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