Melanie L. Connell, M.S.

Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory, Carlson 205, 354 UCB
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado 

Boulder, CO 80309-0354, USA
Phone: (303) 492-7702
FAX: (303) 492-6778
E-mail: Melanie.Connell@colorado.edu



Research Interests

  • Determining the effects of healthy aging on the vascular system
  • Understanding the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of habitual exercise on the vascular system

Current Research Projects

  • Role of inflammation and oxidative stress in aging-induced vascular dysfunction and insulin sensitivity
  • Mechanisms of increased arterial stiffness with aging in the mouse
  • Mechanisms of improved endothelial function in the aged mouse following exercise training

Education

M.S.               May  2006       University of Colorado, Boulder, Integrative Physiology

B.S.                June 2003        University of California, Santa Barbara, Biopsychology  


Professional Experience

2009 - present Professional Reseach Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology, Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory,
                                                                        Dr. Douglas Seals, University of Colorado, Boulder.

2004-2008    Graduate Research Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology, Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory,


2003              Research Assistant: Medical Health & Fitness, Director Eric Durak, Santa Barbara, CA


Teaching Experience


2005-present  Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology. Introduction to Statistics,
       University of Colorado, Boulder

2004-2005    Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology. Psychological Kinesiology,
      University of Colorado, Boulder.

2004-2005    Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology. Introduction to Integrative Physiology,
      University of Colorado, Boulder.

2004             Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Integrative Physiology. Colloquium in Integrative Physiology,
      University of Colorado, Boulder.

Publications

            Manuscripts Published in Refereed Journals

            Lisa A. Lesniewski, Melanie L. Connell, Jessica R. Durrant, Brian J. Folian, Marin C. Anderson, Anthony J. Donato and Douglas                 R. Seals. B6D2F1 Mice are a Suitable Model of Oxidative Stress-Mediated Impaired Endothelium-Dependent Dilation with Aging.                    Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences  Jan 2009; 64A: 9 - 20.

 
            Jessica R. Durrant, Douglas R. Seals, Melanie L. Connell, Molly J. Russell, Brooke R. Lawson, Brian J. Folian, Anthony J.                             Donato and Lisa A. Lesniewski. Voluntary Wheel Running Restores Endothelial Function in Old Mice: Role of Superoxide                                 Dismutase Activity NADPH Oxidase and eNOS.  J. Physiol., Jul 2009; 587: 3271 - 3285.

            

            Published Abstracts

Melanie L. Connell, Jessica R. Durrant, Molly J. Russell, Anthony J. Donato, Douglas R. Seals, and Lisa A. Lesniewski. Voluntary Wheel Running Abolishes Vascular Inflammation and Restores Endothelial Function in Old Mice. FASEB J, Apr 2009; 23: 777.6.

 

Jessica R. Durrant, Brian J. Folian, Melanie L. Connell, Molly J. Russell, Douglas R. Seals, Lisa A. Lesniewski. Chronic Aerobic Exercise Opposes Age- and High Fat Diet-Associated Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction: Relation to IKKb and AMPK. FASEB J, Apr 2009; 23: 777.7.

 

Bradley S. Fleenor, Lisa A. Lesniewski, Jessica R. Durrant, Melanie L. Connell, Anthony J. Donato, Douglas R. Seals. Voluntary Aerobic Exercise Abolishes Age-associated Arterial Stiffnening in Mice: Relation to Collagen Subtype Expression in the Medial and Adventitial Layers. FASEB J, Apr 2009; 23: 774.13.

 

Molly J. Russell, Brian J. Folian, Jessica R. Durrant, Melanie L. Connell, Douglas R. Seals, Lisa A. Lesniewski. Aging Increases Susceptibility to Western Diet-Induced Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance in Mice. FASEB J, Apr 2009; 23: 990.18

 

Catarina Rippe, Melanie L. Connell, Lisa A. Lesniewski, Anthony J. Donato, and Douglas R. Seals. Abstract 3684: Short-term Caloric Restriction Reverses Age-associated Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Older Mice. Circulation, Oct 2008; 118: S_466.

 

Melanie L. Connell, Jessica R. Durrant, Brian J. Folian, Molly J. Russell, Douglas R. Seals, Lisa A. Lesniewski. Anti-inflammatory treatment restores endothelium-dependent dilation in older mice by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability. FASEB J, Mar 2008; 22: 967.5.

 

Jessica R. Durrant, Melanie L. Connell, Brian J. Folian, Molly J. Russell, Douglas R. Seals, Lisa A. Lesniewski. B6D2F1 mouse model to study the effects of habitual aerobic exercise on vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging. FASEB J, Mar 2008; 22: 1235.11.

 

Brian J. Folian, Jessica R. Durrant, Melanie L. Connell, Molly J Russell, Douglas R. Seals, Lisa A. Lesniewski. Aging is Associated with Increased Susceptibility to Western Diet-Induced Glucose Intolerance and Endothelial Dysfunction in Mice. FASEB J, Mar 2008; 22: 1226.7.

 

Melanie L. Connell, Lisa A Lesniewski, Jessica R Durrant, Brian J Folian, Anthony J Donato, and Douglas R Seals. The B6D2F1 Strain: A Novel Mouse Model of Human Vascular Aging. FASEB J, Mar 2007; 21: LB94.

 

Lisa A. Lesniewski, Melanie L. Connell, Brian J. Folian, Jessica R. Durrant, Anthony J. Donato, and Douglas R. Seals. Role of superoxide in carotid artery endothelial dysfunction in the B6D2F1 mouse. FASEB J, Mar 2007; 21: LB94.


Personal Interests

  • Volleyball
  • Photography
  • Skiing
  • Traveling