Dr. Craig A. Cooney
Craig A. Cooney, Ph.D.
is Co-chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the
Mprize along
with Andrzej Bartke. He is also
a renowned epigenetics expert and Assistant Professor at the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Craig studies the role of DNA methylation and epigenetics
on the health, cancer development, and lifespan of mammals. Epigenetics
can be changed by drugs and by specific nutrients found in foods and
nutritional supplements. Epigenetics strongly affect normal cell
differentiation and cancer development.
His interests
include childhood
and adult cancers that help us understand epigenetic changes that occur
with and without an aging component. He studies the effects on
adult animals
as well as the effects on offspring when their mothers take specific
supplements during pregnancy.
Craig also studies certain
molecular effects of
nutrients including effects on DNA methylation, gene expression, and
metabolite levels. DNA methylation is essential for the organization,
maintenance, and control of chromosomes and epigenetic regulation of the
genome. He is particularly interested in treatments and genes that will
help maintain or optimize DNA methylation to maximize longevity and
prevent age-related disease.
He coauthored
Methyl Magic: Maximum Health Through Methylation,
Maternal epigenetics and methyl supplements affect agouti gene
expression in Avy/a mice,
Methylation Profiling of Archived Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A
Promising
Prognostic System,
Identification of genes contributing to the obese yellow
Avy
phenotype:
caloric restriction, genotype, diet x genotype interactions, and
Mitochondrial regulation of Cancer Associated Nuclear DNA
Methylation,
and authored
Germ cells carry the epigenetic benefits of grandmother’s
diet and
Dietary Selenium and Arsenic Affect DNA Methylation,
Craig earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology at the University of California, Davis.
Watch
Craig Cooney, Mprize competitor.
