Behzad Varamini
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Behzad Varamini

Co-Director, Stewart Science Honors Program
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences

DepartmentDepartment of Biological Sciences and Chemistry
Biola AffiliationsFaculty
Office LocationLim Center 117

Documents

CV Document (PDF)

Degrees

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania
  • Ph.D., Human Nutrition, Cornell University
  • B.S., Biotechnology, Elizabethtown College

Biography

Behzad Varamini incorporates current clinical case studies and cutting-edge research into his physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition courses, while also working closely with a small group of students in his laboratory.  He is passionate about challenging and mentoring students to reach their truest and highest potential, and the aim of all his work in and out of the classroom is their long-term success.

Varamini is interested in the molecular mechanisms that drive aging and longevity. Specifically, his lab is focused on the behavior of a family of highly-conserved circadian-controlled metabolic genes called Sirtuins in mediating the effects of diet on drosophila melanogaster lifespan. A number of strains and genetic models are being investigated to elucidate the role of diet and small molecule activators of sirtuins on gene expression and sleep/activity levels. Dr. Varamini conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Publications

  • Toth P, Tarantini S, Davila A, Valcarcel-Ares MN, Tucsek Z, Varamini B, Ballabh P, Sonntag WE, Baur JA, Csiszar A, Ungvari Z.Purinergic glio-endothelial coupling during neuronal activity: role of P2Y1 receptors and eNOS in functional hyperemia in the mouse somatosensory cortex. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2015 Dec 1;309(11):H1837-45.
  • Varamini B, Sikalidis AK, Bradford KL. Resveratrol increases cerebral glycogen synthase kinase phosphorylation as well as protein levels of drebrin and transthyretin in mice: an exploratory study. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014 Feb;65(1):89-96.
  • Agarwal B, Campen MJ, Channell MM, Wherry SJ, Varamini B, Davis JG, Baur JA, Smoliga JM. Resveratrol for primary prevention of atherosclerosis: clinical trial evidence for improved gene expression in vascular endothelium. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Jun 5;166(1):246-8.
  • Ye L, Varamini B, Lamming DW, Sabatini DM, Baur JA. Rapamycin has a biphasic effect on insulin sensitivity in C2C12 myotubes due to sequential disruption of mTORC1 and mTORC2. Front Genet. 2012 Sep 11;3:177.
  • Varamini B, and Baur, JA. The polyphenol resveratrol alters global patterns of gene regulation and improves physiology through multiple potential pathways, Book chapter in: Nutritional Genomics. Wayne Bidlack ed., Taylor and Francis, 123-133, 2010.
  • Price NP, Gomes AP, Ling AJ, Montalvo AM, North BJ, Hubbard BP, Agarwal B, Davis JG, Varamini B, Hafner A, Moaddel R, Rolo AP, Palmeira CM, deCabo R, Baur JA, Sinclaur DA. SIRT1 is required for AMPK activation and the beneficial effects of resveratrol on mitochondrial function. Cell Metab. 2012 May 2;15(5):675-90.
  • Sikalidis AK, Varamini B. Roles of hormones and signaling molecules in describing the relationship between obesity and colon cancer. Pathol Oncol Res. 2011 Jan 9.
  • Strable MS, Tschanz C, Varamini B, Brenna JT. Mammalian DNA (15) N exhibits intramolecular variation and is unresponsive to dietary protein level. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2011 Dec 15;25(23):3555-62.
  • Brenna JT, Varamini B, Jensen RG, et al. Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid concentrations in human breast milk worldwide. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1457-64.

Presentations

  • Varamini B, Tresser J, Braden L, Corban S, Joel H, Ketema L. Dietary Restriction alters sleep and activity levels in 14 day-old Drosophila melanogaster. Poster presentation at Genetics Society of America 2017.
  • Varamini B. Intensive use of primary literature in science courses can enhance critical thinking, student interest and content integration. Poster presentation at Experimental Biology 2014.
  • Varamini B, Sikalidis A, Bradford KL, Brenna JT. Dietary resveratrol induces neuroprotective changes in several protein targets but does not affect plaque burden in Alzheimer's Disease transgenic mice. Abstract presented at Experimental Biology 2009, New Orleans LA.
  • Varamini B, Strable MS, Tschanz C, Brenna JT. Neuronal DNA does not turn over during guinea pig life span. Abstract presented at Experimental Biology 2007, Washington, D.C.
  • Varamini B. Dietary Restriction increases and consolidates sleep in Drosophila Melanogaster. Poster presentation at Experimental Biology 2016.

Research Interests

  • Nutrient-Sensing and Nutrient-Responsive Gene Expression in Drosophila
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Sleep and Longevity

Courses

  • Physiology
  • Human Nutrition
  • Nutrition and Metabolism
  • Nutrition, Health, and Society
  • Writing in the Disciplines: Scientific Communication

Areas of Expertise for Media Interviews

  • Biological Sciences
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