Laurie B Cook

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Laurie B Cook, Ph.D

(She/Her/Hers)

Professor (Biology)

(585) 395-5757
lcook@brockport.edu
Office: Lennon Hall 227
Office Hours:

Fall 2023 Office Hours in 227 Lennon Hall

• Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30-10am

Fall 2023 Pre-professional Health Office Hours in 123 Smith Hall

• Fridays 2:30-5pm 

Bio

Dr. Cook earned her PhD in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Rochester Medical Center under the mentorship of Dr. Patricia M. Hinkle.  After a short Postdoc at Cornell University in Molecular Biology & Genetics, she joined the SUNY Brockport Faculty in 2005.  In addition to teaching several required and elective courses to our majors, Dr Cook serves as Director of the Pre-professional Health Program. She is an active researcher and scholar and  has previously held external research grants from both the NSF and NIH totaling over $750K.  

Education

Graduate Certificate · Higher Education Administration · Stonybrook University State University of New York, Online Program 2016

Ph.D. · Pharmacology & Physiology · University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 2004

M.S. · Pharmacology & Physiology · University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 2001

B.S. · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology · The University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 1998

Courses Taught

Current courses: General Biology I w/lab (BIO201), Biological Chemistry Lecture (BIO310) and Lab (BIO311), Cancer Biology (BIO475/575), Advanced Cell Biology (BIO407/507), General Endocrinology (BIO466.566), Intro Honors Research (BIO290), Honors Research (BIO493), Honors Thesis (BIO497),Health Professions Shadowing (PPH300)

Research Interests

Using cell culture models of obesity, we hope to gain a foundational understanding of how adipocytes are triggered to expand and differentiate during adipose tissue development.  We are particularly interested in the role that an appetite-stimulating hormone called MCH plays in these decisions, as well as in the recruitment of immune cells like macrophages to adipose tissue, where they can contribute to an inflammatory state. Ongoing student projects include the following:

• Colin Johnston ~ Lipid Droplet Physiology
• Michael Ferrante ~ Gene Expression Changes in Adipocytes During Tissue Development

• Awards/Recognitions
  • SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service · 2021
  • Nomination for Outstanding Service Award · 2019
  • Discretionary Salary Award for Service · 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
  • Recognition of Support for Students with Disabilities, Brockport · 2015
  • Discretionary Salary Award in Scholarship · 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016
  • Ronald-Fontaine Award for Faculty-Student Engagement, Brockport · 2015
  • Meritorious Service Award, Sigma Delta Epsilon Graduate Women in Science · 2014
  • Travel Award, American Society for Cell Biology · 2014
  • Best Poster Award, Graduate Women in Science · 2012
  • Academic Advisement Award · 2009
  • UUP Professional Development Award · 2008
  • Discretionary Salary Award in Teaching · 2006

• Recent Publications

  * Undergraduate Student Co-Authors

  **Masters Student Co-Authors

  Cook LB, Ophardt, H.D., Galbier, L., Shen, R. Transcriptome analysis of ciliary-dependent MCH signaling in differentiating 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. 2021. Sci Rep 11, 4880. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84138-4 PMID: 33649390

  Shen R, *Soeder, RA, **Ophardt HD, **Giangrasso, PJ and Cook LB. Identification of Long Non-coding RNAs Expressed in Early Adipogenesis. 2019. OnLine J Biol Sci. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6afc/9411a170aeb663dc3e5b9eeba001f3bdc7c2.pdf

  *Howard AX, *Elnicki R, *Smith AH, *Galardi J, *Thomas-Ibitoye M, *Cohen K, Cook LB, Sreenilayam B. Isolation of Full-Length Wild-Type LGN Protein. 2018. Vol. IX. page 8. Fort Collins, CO: Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence. www.jurpress.org

  **Moden JI, *Haude K, *Carroll R, **Goodspeed A, Cook LB. Analyzing the Role of Receptor Internalization in the Regulation of Melanin-concentrating Hormone Signaling. Int J Endocrin. Vol 2013, Article ID 143052, 10 pages, 2013. PMID: 24348551

  Cook LB, *Shum L, **Portwood, S. Melanin-concentrating Hormone Facilitates Migration of 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes. Mol Cell Endo. 2010. 320:45-50. PMID: 2017126

  Cook LB, **Delorme-Axford EB, *Robinson, K. Caveolae as potential mediators of MCH-signaling pathways. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 2008 Oct 31; 375:592-595. PMID: 18722347

• Presentations

  Recent Collaborations with Students:

  Dasia Alston (B.S. ’24) What are the factors affecting sunscreen usage in the Black community? presented at the CSTEP Annual Statewide Conference at the University at Buffalo, June 2023.

  Monica Asemota (B.S. ’24) Discovering My Passion: A PPH300 Internship ~ Differences Between a Medical Doctor and a Nurse Practitioner. Presented at the 2023 SUNY Brockport Scholar’s Day.

  Taylor Slavin (B.S. ’23) MD, DO, PA, and NP - What are the Differences? Presented at the 2023 SUNY Brockport Scholar’s Day.

  Kirk Ellison (B.S. ’23) Correlations Between 1,25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D (Vitamin D3) and Adipocyte Growth. Presented at 2023 SUNY Brockport Scholar’s Day.

  Brock Johnston (B.S. ’23) The Identification of MCHR-1 in J774A.1 Macrophages and The Effect of Melanin-concentrating Hormone on a 3T3-La Adipocyte/J774A.1 Macrophage Co-culture. Presented at 2023 SUNY Brockport Scholar’s Day.

  Colin Johnston (B.S. ’25) Biochemical Isolation of Lipid Droplets from 3T3-L1 Adipocytes presented at the Rochester Academy of Sciences Fall Paper Session, Rochester Museum and Science Center, November 2022.

  Brock Johnston (B.S. ’23) Determination of MCH Receptors in J774A.1 Macrophages. presented at the Rochester Academy of Sciences Fall Paper Session, Rochester Museum and Science Center, November 2022.

  Derek Hutchings (B.S. ’23) Arf-6 Movement in Response to MCH Treatment in 3T3-L1 Cells presented at SUNY Brockport’s SURP Poster Session, Drake Library, October 2022.

External Grant Funding

2015-2019 - RUI: Adaptation of MCH receptor function during differentiation of adipocytes · The  National Science Foundation · Principal Investigator · Grant Number 1515737 · $404,344 ·Major Goal: To determine the role of primary cilia in the regulation of MCHR1 signaling in differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

2016-2017 - RUI: Adaptation of MCH receptor function during differentiation of adipocytes · The  National Science Foundation · Principal Investigator · Grant Number 1515737 · $4,000 ·Major Goal: Summer Graduate Student Stipend

2010-2014 - NIH R15 AREA: An Investigation into the Molecular Mechanisms of Melanin-concentrating  Hormone Receptor Desensitization · NIH/NIGMS · Principal Investigator · Grant Number 1R15GM090163 · $211,783· Major Goal: To determine the roles of caveolae, beta-arrestin recruitment and receptor degradation to the regulation of MCH signaling.

2010-2011 - NIH R15 AREA: An Investigation into the Molecular Mechanisms of Melanin-concentrating  Hormone Receptor Desensitization - Supplement · NIH/NIGMS · Principal Investigator ·Grant Number 1R15GM090163 · $36,132 · Major Goal: To fund the purchase of a fluorescence plate reader to facilitate the aims associated with 1R15GM090163-01.

Professional Memberships

• National Association of Health Professions Advisors
• The American Society for Cell Biology