Sailendra N. Nichenametla, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Education
Ph.D. Penn State University
M.S. University of Idaho
B. V. Sc. & A. H. College of Veterinary Science: Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India
About Dr. Nichenametla
Dr. Nichenametla received his PhD in Integrative Biosciences from Pennsylvania State University (Hershey, PA) and DVM from Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (Tirupati, India). He has a longstanding interest in understanding how genetics and the environment—diet, in particular—shape health. During graduate and postdoctoral training, he investigated the effects of bioactive compounds in milk, berries, and dietary fiber on diseases such as colon cancer and metabolic syndrome. While training for his PhD, he investigated how genetic variation in humans alters an individual’s capacity to combat oxidative stress and risk for cancers.
Current Research
Dr. Nichenametla currently focuses on sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR), a dietary intervention in which the intake of the amino acids methionine and cysteine is decreased. SAAR extends lifespan and lowers the risk for metabolic diseases and cancers in rodent models. The primary aim of his work is to delineate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which SAAR induces these benefits. His secondary aim is to test whether SAAR-induced molecular pathways can be harnessed by means of pharmaceutics and nutraceutics to promote human and companion animal health. His approach to achieve these aims includes integrating the knowledge and research methods from multiple disciplines, including nutritional biochemistry, aging, and redox biology.
