Faculty and Staff Profiles

Melissa earned her BS in Biology with a minor in German from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. While in college she worked at the University of Maryland Medical Center Division of Transplant Research where she aided with clinical research trials. After college she attended the University of South Carolina were she received her PhD in Exercise Science under the supervision of Dr. James Carson. She went on to do a post-doctoral fellowship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the department of Developmental Neurobiology. She is now and Assistant Professor in the School of Health Studies at the University of Memphis.

 Dr. Puppa's current research focus is on the role of skeletal muscle mitochondrial health in disease and aging. Specifically she is interested in understanding how diet and exercise can act to prevent muscle loss in diseased and aged conditions.She has published numerous papers in the field of muscle wasting and co-authored two book chapters. Dr. Puppa is a member of the American Physiological Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the American Heart Association, and USA Triathlon.

• Ph.D. Exercise Science - The University of South Carolina - 2014
• BS Biology - Roanoke College - 2008

• Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences- Exercise Sport and Movement Science - University of Memphis - 2016-present
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Neurobiology - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - 2014-2016
• Graduate Assistant , Exercise Science - University of South Carolina - 2009-2013
• Clinical Research Assistant, Organ Transplant Department - University of Maryland Medical Center - 2005-2007

• Higher Education Science Educator of the Year Nominee - TSTA - 2020
• Doctoral Student Achievement Award - Dept of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina - 2014
• 1st place Doctoral Student Research Award - SEACSM - 2013
• Arnold School of Public Health Doctoral Fellowship - Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina - 2010/2011

• ESMS 7202 Exercise Physiology Cardiovascular and Metabolism - University of Memphis
• ESMS 3603 Exercise Physiology 1 - University of Memphis
• ESMS 2004 Intro to Exercise Science - University of Memphis
• EXSS 3703-Exercise Physiology II - University of Memphis
• EXSS 4015-Exer Prog Spec Population - University of Memphis
• Anatomy and Physiology - University of South Carolina
• Advanced Laboratory Methods - University of South Carolina
• Exercise Science 783 (Seminar Series) - University of South Carolina

• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Zereque Powell - 2023
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Marthaniese Jones - 2022
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Kierstin Davis - 2022
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Jason Lin - 2022
• PhD Rehabilitation Sciences UTHSC - Brittany Counts-Franch - 2021
• PhD Rehabilitation Sciences - Jessica Halle -  
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Wangkuk Son - 2021
• MS Nutrition - Matthew Butawan - 2021
• MS Nutrition - Suman Sharma - 2021
• MS Health Studies - Hailey Fong - 2021
• MS Health Studies - Jay Hinton - 2021
• MS Health Studies - Alexis Nelson - 2021
• BS ESMS - Jason Lin - 2020
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Aaron Persinger - 2020
• MS Nutrition - Martina Faietti - 2020
• MS Nutrition - Raed Ageeli - 2020
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Katie Brown - 2019
• MS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Brittany Edwards - 2019
• MS Health Studies - Sarah Blackmore - 2019
• MS Health Studies - Rachael Ard - 2019
• MS Health Studies - Collin Dowling - 2019
• BS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Ashley Pryke - 2019
• BS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - William Hawkins - 2018
• BS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Ella Baker - 2018
• MS Health Studies - Nicholas Smith - 2018
• MS Health Studies - Jade Caldwell - 2018
• MS Nutrition - Tiasiya Yakimkova - 2018
• BS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Aaron Persinger - 2018
• BS - Kevin Lee -  
• BS Exercise Sport and Movement Science - Michelle Jones - 2017
• MS Nutrition - Jessica Hill - 2017
• MS Nutrition Sciences - Harold Lee - 2017
• High School - Daniel Chizhikov -  

• Blood amino acid profile following acute resistance exercise in trained men and women: impact of whey protein ingestion with and without ProHydrolase® - Deerland Probiotics and Enzymes Inc. - 48,720 -  
• The Regulation of mitochondrial plasticity by gp130r in skeletal muscle after contraction - ACSM - $5,000 - 2013-2014
• Elucidating mechanisms underlying the sexually dimorphic development of metabolic syndrome - College of Health Sciences - 7245 - 2024
• Elucidating mechanisms for the sexually dimorphic response to diet induced obesity and metabolic syndrome - Program to Enhance Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research (PECIR) - 50,000 - 2021
• Muscle mitochondrial proteasomal contributions to healthspan in diet and aging - School of Health Studies - 7500 - 2019
• The effects of leucine supplementation on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and systemic metabolic disease during cancer cachexia - School of Health Studies - 7500 - 2017
• Using electron microscopy to determine effects of classical and trans IL-6 signaling on skeletal muscle mitochondrial distribution, content, and morphology during cancer cachexia - Center for Colon Cancer Research- University of South Carolina - $5,000 - 2011

• NC3Rs - Grant Reviewer - 2019
• Graduate women in science fellowship - Grant Reviewer - 2019
• AHA: Transformational Project Award - Grant Reviewer - 2018-2019
• Midsouth Biomechanics Conference - Session Moderator - 2018
• NCUR - Session Moderator - 2017
• Nutrients - Guest editor - 2020-2021
• Healthy Conversations Symposium - Swim, Bike, Run, Repeat: Multisport Symposium - March 2020
• University of Memphis - Student Research Forum Judge - 2018, 2020
• BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders - Reviewer -  
• Expert Opinion On Drug Metabolism and Toxicology - Reviewer -  
• Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Reviewer -  
• DNA and Cell Biology - Reviewer -  
• Nutrients - Reviewer -  
• Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Reviewer -  
• Frontiers in Physiology - Reviewer -  
• Marine Drug - Reviewer -  
• Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism - Reviewer -  
• Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle - Reviewer -  
• MSSE - Reviewer -  
• Journal of Bones and Muscles Study - Editorial Board -  

• Puppa, M., Brown, KM., Persinger, AM. (2019) Myokines in Aging Muscle. In Dominique Meynial-Denis (Eds) Sarcopenia (pp. 109-131) New York, NY. CRC Press.
• James A. Carson and Melissa J. Puppa. Biological Pathways Impacting Cancer Survival: Exercise as a Countermeasure for the Development and Progression of Cachexia. Exercise, Energy Balance, and Cancer Energy Balance and Cancer, 2013, Volume 6, 59-81
• Melissa J. Puppa and Fabio Demontis. Drosophila models for aging-associated diseases: Skeletal muscle homeostasis and aging in Drosophila. Life Extension: Lessons from Drosophila 2015

• Jessica L. Halle, Quan Zhang, Melissa J. Puppa, Stephen E. Always, James A. Carson (2023). Mouse Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Different Durations of Treadmill Exercise After the Cessation of FOLFOX Chemotherapy. Frontiers in Physiology, 14
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• Impact of feeding time and duration on body mass and composition in young, exercising mice (2023). Richard Bloomer, Marie van der Merwe, Melissa J. Puppa, Matthew Butawan. Recent Progress in Nutrition. 3(3), 1-21.
• Hayden Johnson, Marie van der Merwe, Melissa Puppa, Aaryani Sajja (2023). Rapid and Automated Lipid Profiling by NMR Spectroscopy Using Neural Networks. NMR in Biomedicine. e5010.
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• Wangkuk Son, Katie Brown, Aaron Persinger, Ashley Pryke, Jason Lin, Zereque Powell, Noah Wallace, Marie van der Merwe, Melissa Puppa (2023). Effect of Omega-3 Rich High-Fat Diet on Markers of Tissue Lipid Metabolism in Glucocorticoid Treated Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(14), 11492.
• Jessica Halle, Brittany Counts, Hector Paez, Dryden Baumfalk, Quan Zhang, Junaith Mohamed, Evan Glazer, Melissa Puppa, Ashley Smuder, Stephen Alway, and James Carson (2023). Recovery from FOLFOX Chemotherapy-induced Systemic and Skeletal Muscle Metabolic Dysfunction in Mice. AJP-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 325(2), E132-E151.
  
  
• Alexis Nelson, Hailey Fong, Alex Carnall, Melissa J. Puppa, Derek Beeler, Cris Stickley, William M. Mihalko, and Douglas W. Powell (2023). Increasing Trunk Mass Evokes Lower Extremity Biomechanical Plasticity during Stair Descent. International Journal of Exercise Science. 16(1), 942. 
• Ageeli, R.; Sharma, S.; Puppa, M.; Bloomer, R.J.; Buddington, R.K.; van der Merwe, M (2023). Fasting Protocols Do Not Improve Intestinal Architecture and Immune Parameters in C57BL/6 Male Mice Fed a High Fat Diet. Medicines, 10, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines10020018
• Chidambaram Ramanathan, Hayden Tyler Johnson, Suman Sharma, Wangkuk Son, Melissa Puppa, Saba Neyson Rohani, Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja, Richard Bloomer, Marie van der Merwe. Early time-restricted feeding amends circadian clock function and improves metabolic health in male and female Nile grass rats. Medicines. 2022 Feb 21;9(2):15. doi: 10.3390/medicines9020015.
• Hayden Johnson, Thomas Yates, Gary Leedom, Chidambaram Ramanathan, Melissa Puppa, Marie van der Merwe, and Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja. Multi-tissue Time-domain NMR Metabolomics Investigation of Time-restricted Feeding in Male and Female Nile Grass Rats. Metabolites
• Hailey B. Fong, Alexis K. Nelson, Julie E. Storey, Jay J. Hinton, Melissa Puppa, Deirdre McGhee, Daniel Greenwood and Douglas Powell. Greater breast support reduces common biomechanical risk factors associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.
• Flavia A. Graca, Natalie Sheffield, Melissa Puppa, David Finkelstein, Liam C. Hunt, & Fabio Demontis. A large-scale transgenic RNAi screen identifies transcription factors that modulate myofiber size in Drosophila. PLoS Genetics (Nov 2021)
• Alexis K. Nelson, Hailey B. Fong, Clinton J. Wutzke, Deranda Lester, David O’Reilly, Melissa J. Puppa, Ana Doblas, Heidi Shearin, Douglas W. Powell.Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Lower Extremity Coordination and Coordination Variability in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Neurological Disorders & Epilepsy Journal. 2021; 4(2):142.
• Powell, Douglas; Puppa, Melissa; Muthumani, Anburaj; Nelson, Alexis; Fong, Hailey; Lester, Deranda; Shearin, Heidi; Wutzke, Clint; Xia, RuiPing. Interaction of Contralateral Activation Maneuver and Dopaminergic Medication on Neural and Non-Neural Contributions to Parkinsonian Rigidity. Neurological Disorders & Epilepsy Journal. 2021; 4(2):144.
• Aaron Persinger, Matthew Butawan, Martina Faietti, Ashley Pryke, Kyley Rose, Marie van der Merwe, Richard J. Bloomer, Melissa J. Puppa. Effects of feeding time on markers of muscle metabolic flexibility following acute aerobic exercise in trained mice undergoing time restricted feeding. Nutrients SI: Peri-Training Nutrition and Sports: Nutritional Support for Athletes (Accepted May 2021) (IF:4.546, 2019)
• Mary K. Estes, Jasric J. Bland, Kenya K. Ector, Melissa J. Puppa, Douglas W. Powell, Deranda B. Lester, A High Fat Western Diet Attenuates Phasic Dopamine Release, Neuroscience Letters, 2021, 135952, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135952. (IF: 2.274, 2019)
• Wangkuk Son, Jason Lin, Melissa Puppa. (2020) Nutritional Interventions in Cancer Cachexia Prevention and Treatment. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Johnson, H., Puppa, M., van der Merwe, M., & Tipirneni-Sajja, A. (2020) CRAFT for NMR Lipidomics:Targeting Lipid Metabolism in Leucine Supplemented Tumor Bearing Mice. Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry. (IF:2.035, 2019)
• Sato, S., Gao, S., Puppa, M. J., Kostek, M. C., Wilson, L. B., & Carson, J. A. (2019). High-Frequency Stimulation on Skeletal Muscle Maintenance in Female Cachectic Mice. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 51(9), 1828-1837. (IF:4.029, 2019)
• Brown, K. M., Sharma, S., Baker, E., Hawkins, W., van der Merwe, M., & Puppa, M. J. (2019). Delta-6- desaturase (FADS2) inhibition and omega-3 fatty acids in skeletal muscle protein turnover. Biochemistry and biophysics reports, 2019 Mar 15;18:100622. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2019.100622. (IF: 1.65, 2018)
• Nicholas Smith, Jade Caldwell, Marie van der Merwe, Sunita Sharma, Matthew Butawan, Melissa Puppa, Richard Bloomer. A comparison of dietary and caloric restriction models on body composition, physical performance, and metabolic health in young mice. Nutrients. 2019 Feb 7;11(2):350. doi: 10.3390/nu11020350. (IF:4.546, 2019)
• HW. Lee, E. Baker, W. Hawkins, AM Persinger, K Lee, MJ Puppa. Effects of low dose leucine supplementation on gastrocnemius muscle mitochondrial content and protein turnover in tumor bearing mice. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 2019 Sep;44(9):997-1004. doi:10.1139/apnm-2018-0765. (IF:3.455)
• Douglas Powell, Brian Szekely, Sarah Blackmore, Alexis Nelson, Alexandra Shallert, Deranda Lester, Nicholas Murray, Melissa Puppa. Effects of sampling rate and movement frequency on entropic measures of rigidity. Journal of Nature and Science 4(5) e504, 2018. (IF:0.25, 2018)
• Douglas Powell, Sarah Blackmore, Melissa Puppa, Deranda Lester, Nicholas Murray, Rebecca Reed-Jones, Rui-Ping Xia. Deep brain stimulation enhances movement complexity during gait in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Neuroscience Letters, 728, 133588. (IF: 2.274, 2019)
• A Bonetto, JK Kays, VA Parker, R Matthews, R Barreto, M Puppa, KS Kang, J Carson, T Guise, KS Mohammad, A Robling, M Couch, L Koniaris, TA Zimmers. Differential bone loss in mouse models of colon cancer cachexia. Frontiers in Physiology. 2017 Jan 11;7:679. (IF:3.647, 2019)
• Aditi A Narsale*, Melissa J Puppa*, Justin P Hardee*, Brandon N VanderVeen, Reilly T Enos, E Angela Murphy, James A Carson. Short-term pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate administration attenuates cachexia-induced alterations to muscle and liver in ApcMin/mice. Oncotarget, 2016 Sep 13;7(37):59482-59502. (IF: 3.765, 2019)
• JE Mangum, JP Hardee, DK Fix, MJ Puppa, J Elkes, D Altomare, Y Bykhovskaya, DR Campagna, PJ Schmidt, AK Sendamarai, HGW Lidov, S C Barlow, N Fischel-Ghodsian, MD Fleming, JA Carson, JR Patton. Pseudouridine synthase 1 deficient mice, a model for Mitochondrial Myopathy with Sideroblastic Anemia, exhibit muscle morphology and physiology alterations. Scientific reports 2016; 6: 26202. (IF:3.998, 2019)
• JP Hardee, JE Mangum, S Gao, S Sato, KL Hetzler, MJ Puppa, DK Fix, JA Carson. Eccentric contraction-induced myofiber growth in tumor-bearing mice. J Applied Physiology 120(1), 29-37. 2016 Jan 1 (IF:2.909, 2019)
• AA. Narsale, R Enos, JP Hardee, MJ Puppa, L. Durstine, EA Murphy, M Pena, R Fayad, JA Carson. Liver Inflammation and Metabolic Signaling in ApcMin/+ mice: The Role of Cachexia Progression. PLOS One 2015; 10(3): e0119888. (IF: 3.201, 2020)
• KL Hetzler, JP Hardee, MJ Puppa, AA Narsale, S Sato, JM Davis, JA Carson. Sex differences in the relationship of IL-6 signaling to cancer cachexia progression. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Molecular Basis of Disease 2015 May;1852(5):816-25. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2014.12.015. Epub 2014 Dec 30. (IF:4.691, 2020)
• MJ Puppa, EA Murphy, R Fayad, GA Hand, JA Carson. Cachectic skeletal muscle response to a novel bout of low-frequency stimulation. J Applied Physiology 116 (8), 1078-1087. 2014 Mar 15 (IF:2.909, 2019)
• KT Velázquez, RT Enos, AA Narsale, MJ Puppa, JM Davis, EA Murphy, JA Carson. Quercetin Supplementation Attenuates the Progression of Cancer Cachexia in ApcMin/+ Mice. The Journal of Nutrition 144 (6), 868-875 (IF:4.281, 2019)
• M.J. Puppa, S. Gao, A.A. Narsale, J.A. Carson Skeletal muscle glycoprotein 130's role in Lewis lung carcinoma-induced cachexia FASEB J., 28 (2014), pp. 998–1009 (IF:4.966, 2019)
• J.P. White, M.J. Puppa, A. Narsale, J.A. Carson Characterization of the male Apc min/+ mouse as a hypogonadism model related to cancer cachexia Open Biol. 2013 Dec 15;2(12):1346-53 (IF:4.93, 2019)
• J.P. Hardee, M.J. Puppa, D.K. Fix, S. Gao, K.L. Hetzler, T.A. Bateman, J.A. Carson The effect of radiation dose on mouse skeletal muscle remodeling. Radiol. Oncol, 48 (2014), pp. 247–256 (IF:1.746, 2019)
• White JP, Puppa MJ, Gao S, Sato S, Welle SL, Carson JA. Muscle mTORC1 suppression by IL-6 during cancer cachexia: A role for AMPK. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 May 15;304(10): E1042-52. (IF:3.300, 2019)
• White, JP, Puppa, MJ, Gao, S, Sato, S, Welle, SL, Carson, JA. Testosterone regulation of Akt/ mTORC1/ FoxO3a Signaling in Skeletal Muscle. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2013 Jan;365(2):174-86. Epub 2012 Oct 29. (IF:3.871, 2019)
• White, JP, Sato, S, Puppa MJ, Baynes, JW, Kostek, M, Matesic, L, Carson, JA. IL-6 regulation on skeletal muscle mitochondrial remodeling during cancer cachexia in the ApcMin/+ mouse. Skeletal Muscle 2012, 2:14. (IF:3.754, 2019)
• Puppa, MJ, White JP, Sato S, Baltgalvis KA, Velazquez KT, Baynes JW, and Carson JA. The Effect of Exercise on IL-6-induced Cachexia in the ApcMin/+ mouse. J Cachexia, Sarcopenia, and Muscle. 2012 3(2):117-37 Epub 2011 Nov 30. (IF:10.029, 2019)
• Puppa MJ, White JP, Sato S, Carins M, Baynes JW, and Carson JA. Gut Barrier Dysfunction in the ApcMin/+ Mouse Model of Colon Cancer Cachexia. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 Dec;1812(12): 1601-6. Epub 2011 Sep 2. (IF:3.422, 2019)
• White, JP, Baltgalvis, KA, Puppa, MJ, Sato, S, Baynes, JW and Carson JA. Muscle Oxidative Capacity during IL-6 Dependent Cancer Cachexia. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Feb;300(2):R201-11. Epub 2010 Dec 9. (IF:3.142, 2019)

• Understanding the Sexually Dimorphic Response to Diet Induced Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. Biology Department Seminar Series. Rhodes College. March 2023

• CFC Awareness Information Session: “How Your Donations Impact Medical Research.” U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Jan 2022
• Sexual dimorphism of diurnal Nile grass rats in response to a high fat diet and time restricted feeding. APS New Trends in Sex and Gender Medicine Oct 2021
• Sexual dimorphism in response to time restricted feeding. UTHSC Rehabilitation Sciences Seminar. Feb 2021
• Creating hands on experiences in a virtual classroom. College of Health Sciences Faculty Teaching Seminar. Feb 2021
• Effects of A High-Fat Omega-3 Rich Diet during Glucocorticoid Treatment in Mice. College of Health Sciences Research Seminar Feb 2021
• The Role of Fasting Interventions on Skeletal Muscle in High Fat Diet Fed Mice. Experimental Biology 2019. Orlando, FL.
• Effects of varying fasting interventions on skeletal muscle signaling. UTHSC biomedical engineering seminar series
• Role of inflammation on cachectic skeletal muscle’s response to a novel bout of low-frequency stimulation. ACSM May 2014 Orlando, FL.
• Skeletal Muscle gp130 receptor regulation of cancer cachexia-induced muscle mass loss. St. Jude National Graduate Student Symposium. March 2013 Memphis, TN.
• Cachectic skeletal muscle response to a novel bout of low frequency stimulation. SEACSM annual meeting. Feb 2013. Greenville, SC.
• The effect of exercise training on anabolic responses in IL-6-induced cancer cachexia. Cancer Cachexia Conference Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. September 2012 Boston, MA
• The effect of exercise training on muscle energy status in IL-6 induced cachexia. ACSM annual meeting. June 2012 San Francisco, CA
• The Effect of Treadmill Exercise on the Regulation of Protein Synthesis during IL-6 Induced Cancer Cachexia. Experimental Biology. April 2012 San Diego, CA
• IL-6 signaling regulates muscle FIS1 expression during the progression of cachexia. Advances in Skeletal Muscle Biology in Health & Disease. Feb 2012 Gainesville, FL.
• Effect of exercise training on neuromuscular performance in cachectic mice. ACSM annual meeting, June 2011. Denver, CO
• IL-6 inhibition attenuates activation of ubiquitin proteasome-dependent degradation in cachectic muscle. Experimental Biology, April 2011. Washington DC
• Role of gut barrier dysfunction and endotoxemia in development of colon cancer cachexia. Experimental Biology, April 2010. Anaheim, CA.
• Treadmill Exercise And Glucose Clearance In ApcMin/+ Mice. ACSM annual meeting June 2010. Baltimore, MD.

• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 7202 - Phys Ex Mtbolc/Cardresp
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 7202 - Phys Ex Mtbolc/Cardresp
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 3703 - Exercise Physiology II
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 7202 - Phys Ex Mtbolc/Cardresp
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 7202 - Phys Ex Mtbolc/Cardresp
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3703 - Exercise Physiology II
• ESMS 3703 - Exercise Physiology II
• ESMS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology I
• ESMS 7202 - Phys Ex Mtbolc/Cardresp
• ESMS 2004 - Intro to Exercise Science
• EXSS 3703 - Exercise Physiology II
• EXSS 4015 - Exer Prog Spec Population

• Zereque Powell, Katie Brown, Wangkuk Son, Jason Lin, Melissa Puppa. The Effects of Dexamethasone Treatment and Dietary Fat Composition on Liver Lipid Metabolism in Mice Consuming High Fat Diets. Experimental Biology 2022. Philadelphia, PA.
• Jason Lin, Brittany Counts, Zereque Powell, Chidambaram Ramanathan, James Carson, Melissa Puppa. The Role of Skeletal Muscle Intrinsic Clock in the Development and Progression of Cancer Cachexia. Experimental Biology 2022. Philadelphia, PA.
• Hayden Johnson, Chidambaram Ramanathan, Melissa Puppa, Marie van der Merwe, and Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja. Investigating time-restricted feeding and metabolic sexual dimorphism in Nile grass rats by time-domain NMR lipid profiling. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Annual Conference 2022.
• Melissa Puppa, Chidambaram Ramanathan, Hayden Johnson, Suman Sharma, Wangkuk Son, Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja, Richard Bloomer, and Marie van der Merwe Sexual dimorphism of diurnal Nile grass rats in response to a high fat diet and time restricted feeding. APS New Trends in Sex and Gender Medicine Oct 2021 (virtual)
• Hayden Johnson, Chidambaram Ramanathan, Melissa Puppa, Marie van der Merwe, and Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja. Robust and reproducible time-domain NMR metabolomics of hepatic tissues using CRAFT. Metabolomics Association of North America Conference 2021. Columbus, OH.
• Hayden Johnson, Melissa Puppa, Marie van der Merwe, Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja. CRAFT for NMR Lipidomics: Targeting Lipid Metabolism in Leucine Supplemented Tumor Bearing Mice. Annual Metabolomics Association of North America Conference 2020. (Virtual)
• Martina Faietti, Richard Bloomer, Melissa Puppa, Matt Butawan, Aaron Persinger, Ashley Pyrke, Kyley Rose and Marie van der Merwe. The Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding on Exercise-induced Immune Parameters in C57BL/6 male mice. American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting 2020. (Virtual)
• Daniel Chizhikov, Jason Lin, Aaron Persinger, Melissa Puppa. Effects of consumption of different plant fats on the development of obesity-related health problems in Drosophila. Alabama State Research Symposium, 2020. Montgomery, AL.
• Aaron M. Persinger, Alexis K. Nelson, Hailey B. Fong, Jay Hinton, Douglas W. Powell, Melissa J. Puppa Respiration and Muscle Oxygenation during Resisted Inspiration while Walking. Mid-South Movement Science Conference, 2020. Memphis, TN
• Alexis K. Nelson, Jay Hinton, Hailey B. Fong, Aaron Persinger, Melissa J. Puppa, Douglas W. Powell Altitude Training Mask Alters Lower Extremity Joint Work Profiles during Treadmill Walking. Mid-South Movement Science Conference, 2020. Memphis, TN
• Hailey B. Fong, Alexis K. Nelson, Jay Hinton, Alexander M. Carnall, Melissa J. Puppa, Douglas W. Powell. Breast Support Alters Knee Joint Biomechanics during A Landing Task. ACSM annual meeting 2020. (Virtual)
• Douglas W. Powell, Alexis K. Nelson, Jay Hinton, Hailey B. Fong, Aaron Persinger, Melissa J. Puppa. Altitude Training Mask Alters Ankle Joint Kinetics During Treadmill Walking. ACSM annual meeting 2020. (Virtual)
• Melissa J. Puppa, Aaron Persinger, Alexis K. Nelson, Jay Hinton, Hailey B. Fong, Douglas W. Powell. The Effect of Elevation Training Mask on Skeletal Muscle Oxygenation during Walking. ACSM annual meeting 2020. (Virtual)
• Aaron Persinger, Matthew Butawan, Ashley Pryke, Kyley, Marie van der Merwe, Richard Bloomer, Melissa Puppa The Effects of Time Restricted Feeding and Exercise on Performance and Body Composition in Healthy Mice. Experimental Biology 2020. (Virtual)
• Melissa Puppa, Katie Brown, Aaron Persinger, Ashley Pryke. Effects of An Omega-3 High-Fat Diet on Skeletal Muscle Protein Degradation in Glucocorticoid-Induced Muscle Wasting. Experimental Biology 2020. (Virtual)
• Daniel Chizhikov, Jason Lin, Aaron Persinger, Melissa Puppa. The Effect of Different Dietary Fats on the Longevity and Muscle Strength in Drosophila. Experimental Biology 2020. (Virtual)
• Hayden Tyler Johnson, Melissa Puppa, Truc Chi Thi Pham, Aaryani Tipirneni-Sajja. Examining the Lipidomic Effects of Leucine Supplementation in Mice Inoculated with Lewis Lung Carcinoma. Metabolomics Association of North America 2019. Atlanta, GA.
• M. Puppa, A. Persinger, K. Brown, R. Wible, N. Smith, J. Caldwell, S. Sharma, M. van der Merwe, R. Bloomer. The Role of Fasting Interventions on Skeletal Muscle Signaling in High Fat Diet Fed Mice. Experimental Biology. April 2019 Orlando, FL.
• Powell DW, Puppa MJ, Lester DB, Blackmore SE. Influence of deep brain stimulation on coordination variability in treadmill walking. 2nd Annual MidSouth Biomechanics Conference, Memphis, TN. Feb 21-22, 2019
• HW. Lee, AM. Persinger, K. Lee, M. Jones, MJ Puppa. Effects of leucine supplementation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and protein turnover in tumor bearing mice. Experimental Biology. April 2018 San Diego, CA.
• KM. Brown, EM. Baker, W Hawkins, S. Sharma, M. van der Merwe, MJ Puppa. Effects of FADS2 inhibition in combination with increased dietary n-3 PUFAs on skeletal muscle protein turnover in mice fed a high fat diet. Experimental Biology. April 2018 San Diego, CA.
• S. Sharma, M. Puppa, M. van der Merwe. A Fads2 inhibitor in combination with dietary n-3 fatty acids alter metabolic parameters, but not lymphocyte proliferation. Nutrition 2018
• A Persinger, M. Puppa. The Effect of Leucine Supplementation on Liver Protein Synthesis in a Cancer Cachexia Model. NCUR 2018 Edmond, OK.
• A. Bonetto, M. J. Puppa, J. A. Carson, T. A. Zimmers The ES-2 ovarian cancer causes muscle wasting in vitro and in vivo: A novel experimental model of cancer cachexia.
• Puppa MJ. Carson JA. Role if inflammation on cachectic skeletal muscle’s response to a novel bout of low-frequency stimulation. ACSM May 2014 Orlando, FL.
• Puppa MJ, Narsale AN, Gao S, Carson JA. Skeletal muscle gp130 receptor regulation of cancer cachexia-induced muscle mass loss. Experimental Biology. April 2013 Boston, MA.
• Puppa MJ, Narsale AN, Gao S, Carson JA. Skeletal muscle gp130 receptor regulation of cancer cachexia-induced muscle mass loss. St. Jude National Graduate Student Symposium. March 2013 Memphis, TN.
• M.J. Puppa, J.A. Carson. Cachectic skeletal muscle response to a novel bout of low frequency stimulation. SEACSM annual meeting. Feb 2013. Greenville, SC.
• Hardee JP, Puppa MJ, Narsale AA, Gao S, and Carson JA. The Effect of Cachexia Severity and Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Mass. Southeast ACSM. February 2013
• Hardee JP, Puppa MJ, Sato S, Carson WO, Hetzler KL, Bateman T, and Carson JA. The Effect of Radiation Dosing on Mouse Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Metabolism. ASGSR National Conference. November 2012
• M.J. Puppa, The effect of exercise training on anabolic responses in IL-6-induced cancer cachexia. Cancer Cachexia Conference Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. September 2012 Boston, MA
• M.J. Puppa, A.A. Narsale, K.T Velazquez, S. Sato, J.P White, J.A Carson. The effect of exercise training on muscle energy status in IL-6 induced cachexia. ACSM annual meeting. June 2012 San Francisco, CA
• Velazquez KT, Hardee JP, Puppa MJ, Aartun JD, Narsale AA, Sato S, Davis JM, and Carson JA. The Effect of Quercentin Supplementation on Volitional Fatigue and Skeletal Muscle Mass Retention During Cancer Cachexia. ACSM annual meeting. May 2012 San Francisco, CA
• White JP, Hardee JP, Puppa MJ, Aartun JD, Narsale AA, Sato S, and Carson JA. The Importance of Testes Function in Mouse Models of Cachexia. Experimental Biology. April 2012 San Diego, CA
• M.J. Puppa, S. Sato, J.P White, J.A Carson. The Effect of Treadmill Exercise on the Regulation of Protein Synthesis during IL-6 Induced Cancer Cachexia. Experimental Biology. April 2012 San Diego, CA
• M.J. Puppa, S. Sato, J.P White, J.A Carson. IL-6 signaling regulates muscle FIS1 expression during the progression of cachexia. Advances in Skeletal Muscle Biology in Health & Disease. Feb 2012 Gainesville, FL.
• M.J. Puppa, A.A. Narsale, K.T Velazquez, S. Sato, J.P White, J.A Carson. The effect of exercise training on muscle energy status in IL-6 induced cachexia. SEACSM. Feb 2012 Jacksonville, FL
• Kandy T. Velazquez, Reilly T. Enos, Aditi Narsale, Johannes Aartun, Melissa Puppa, Angela Murphy, Mark Davis, James Carson. (2011). Curcumin supplementation attenuates lean body mass loss during the progression of cancer cachexia in the Lewis lung carcinoma-tumor-bearing mouse. Abstracts of the 6th Cachexia Conference, Milan, Italy, December 2011
• White, J, Sato, S, Puppa, M, Carson J. Exercise training prevents IL-6 suppression of muscle PGC-1a and Mitofusin 1 & 2 proteins during the progression of cachexia in the ApcMin/+ mouse. AICR annual research conference. Washington DC. 2011
• S. Sato, M.J. Puppa, K.T. Velazquez, A. Narsale, J.P. White and J.A. Carson. (June 2011). The Effect Of Tumor Growth And Moderate Exercise On ApcMin/+ Mouse Cage Activity. National ACSM. Denver, CO.
• Puppa M, White J, Velazquez K, Sato S, Aartun J, Carson J, Effect of exercise training on neuromuscular performance in cachectic mice. ACSM annual meeting, June 2011. Denver, CO
• Puppa M, White J, Velazquez K, Sato S, Aartun J, Carson J, Effect of exercise training on neuromuscular performance in cachectic mice. SEACSM annual meeting. Feb 2011. Greenville, SC
• J.P. White, M.J. Puppa, S. Sato, J.W. Baynes and J.A. Carson. Glucose Tolerance and Exercise in a Mouse Model of Cancer Cachexia. SEACSM annual meeting. Feb 2010 Greenville, SC.
• J.P. White, S. Sato, M.J. Puppa, J.W. Baynes, S.L. Welle and J.A. Carson. IL-6-induced cachexia and muscle IGF-1 signaling. Experimental Biology, April 2010 Anaheim, CA.
• K.T. Velazquez, S. Sato, J.P. White, M.J. Puppa, J.W. Baynes and J.A. Carson. Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity in cachectic mice. Experimental Biology, April 2010. Anaheim, CA.
• J.P. White, S. Sato, M.J. Puppa, K.T. Velazquez, J.W. Baynes, S. Welle and J.A. Carson. Skeletal muscle protein synthesis and IL-6 induced cancer cachexia. ACSM conference on integrative physiology of exercise, Sept 2010 Miami, FL.
• Puppa MJ, White JP, Sato S, Baynes JW, and Carson JA. Role of gut barrier dysfunction and endotoxemia in development of colon cancer cachexia. Experimental Biology, April 2010. Anaheim, CA.
• Puppa MJ, White JP, Velazquez KT, Baynes JW, and Carson JA. Treadmill Exercise And Glucose Clearance In ApcMin/+ Mice. ACSM annual meeting June 2010. Baltimore, MD.

• 2021 LOI AICR: Regulation of chemotherapy induced circadian dysfunction by exercise. PI ($136,000)
• 2020 NIH-NCI R21: Muscle circadian clock in cancer cachexia- PI ($342,685)
• 2020 LOI AICR: Mediterranean diet as nutritional therapy to preserve metabolic function and immune response during chemotherapy treatment in colorectal cancer PI ($136,000)
• 2020 NIH C06: Biomedical Research Facilities (resubmission)-CO-I
• 2019 NIH C06: Biomedical Research Facilities- Co-I
• 2018 LOI AICR: Omega-3 fatty acid and BCAA supplementation for the preservation of muscle mass in colorectal cancer after cachexia diagnosis.
• 2017 NIH RO3: Muscle Mitochondrial Proteasome in Diabetes and Aging (Not funded)
• 2012 South Carolina Space Grant Consortium Assistantship. $10,000 Title: Skeletal muscle recovery from modeled microgravity and space radiation (Not funded)