Kellie L. Tamashiro, Ph.D., M.S.

Headshot of Kellie L. Tamashiro
  • Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research Interests

Stress, depression, obesity, ingestive behavior, eating disorders, Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), epigenetics, neuroendocrinology, animal models ...read more

Background

Titles

  • Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • Ph.D.; University of Cincinnati (Ohio) (2005)
  • B.B.A.; University of Hawaii (Hawaii) (1992)
  • M.S.; University of Hawaii (Manoa) (1999)

Additional Training

  • Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 2008, Psychiatry & Neuroscience

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Our research program focuses on the developmental origins of disease. Stressors, including altered diet, psychosocial stress, immune challenge, during gestation can have adverse consequences on the intrauterine environment and increase disease susceptibility of the developing fetus.  The long-term effects on offspring include greater susceptibility to psychiatric disease, such as depression and anxiety disorders, and adverse metabolic conditions including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Studies in the laboratory use rodent models and incorporate a multilevel approach to determine the behavioral, physiological, and neural correlates of disease development.  Genetic and epigenetic approaches are used to further elucidate molecular mechanisms that may increase susceptibility to psychiatric disease and will facilitate development of diagnostic biomarkers and novel clinical interventions for such conditions. 

Another area of interest in the lab is in eating disorders. We use a rat animal model of anorexia (“activity-based anorexia”) to identify the factors that serve to perpetuate and sustain anorexia nervosa-like behavior and increase the likelihood of relapse. 

Lab

Lab Website: Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory

Contact for Research Inquiries

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Ross Building
720 Rutland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21205 map
Phone: 410-614-9151
Fax: 410-502-3769

Email me

Academic Affiliations & Courses

Graduate Program Affiliation

Faculty, Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Program

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Fellowship, University Distinguished Graduate, 2000 - 2003
  • Fellowship, Albert J. Ryan Foundation, 2002 - 2004
  • Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, 2004
  • Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Training Grant in Neuroendocrinology (T32 DK-59803), 2003 - 2004
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow, Training Grant in Psychiatry & Neuroscience (T32 MH-15330), 2005 - 2006
  • K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, NIH, 2006
  • Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award Finalist, The Obesity Society, 2007
  • Alan N. Epstein Research Award, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, 2014

Memberships

  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
  • The Obesity Society
  • Society of Biological Psychiatry

Videos & Media

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

Happy Thanksgiving: If Kids Exercise, They Are Not Doomed By Maternal Epigenetics To Be ObeseScience 2.0November 28, 2013

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