David D Church, PhD

Research Program: Cancer Biology Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor Campus: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College: College of Medicine Department: Geriatrics Faculty

Cancer Research Interest

• Disease Site Focus: No Specific Disease Site
• Research Focus Area: Prevention, Detection, Diagnosis/ Prognosis, Treatment
• Type of Research: Clinical, Basic, Translational
• Research Keywords: Metabolism, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Proteome
• Research Interest Statement: I specialize in clinical trials and stable isotope tracers to assess outcomes and metabolism in individuals with catabolic conditions such as those with cancer and undergoing cancer treatment. Muscle tissue is a primary focus, e.g., cancer cachexia induced muscle wasting, as maintenance of muscle mass and function is strongly related to beneficial outcomes for patients with cancer. My current project investigates how muscle and whole-body phenotypes are altered in patients undergoing treatment for advanced head and neck cancer.

Contact Information

• Email Address: DCHURCH@UAMS.EDU
• Profiles Research Networking Software: View Profile

Active Grants

• National Dairy Council – AWD00056233
  “Whey Protein and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus”
  Co-Investigator
  5/1/2024 – 12/31/2026
• National Pork Board – NA
  “Effects of lean pork on protein homeostasis and glucose regulation in prediabetic adults. ”
  Principal Investigator
  9/1/2023 – 10/31/2025

Recent Publications

• Church DD, Hirsch KR, Kviatkovsky SA, [et al.]. The anabolic response to a ground beef patty and soy-based meat alternative: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2024. PMID: 39222687. PMCID: PMC11600063.
• Church DD, Zamir A, Escalante G, [et al.]. Early Life Androgen Administration Attenuates Aging Related Declines in Muscle Protein Synthesis. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2024. PMID: 38376993. PMCID: PMC11373229.
• Robinson DT, Calkins KL, Chen Y, [et al., including Church DD]. Response to "Commentary on 'Guidelines for parenteral nutrition in preterm infants: The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition'". JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition. 2024. PMID: 38189467.
• Church DD, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR. Stimulation of muscle protein synthesis with low-dose amino acid composition in older individuals. Frontiers in nutrition. 2024 11:1360312. PMID: 38524852. PMCID: PMC10957733.
• Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR, Hirsch KR, [et al., including Church DD]. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Effects of essential amino acid supplementation on exercise and performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2023 20(1):2263409. PMID: 37800468. PMCID: PMC10561576.
• Morgan PT, Witard OC, Højfeldt G, [et al., including Church DD]. Dietary protein recommendations to support healthy muscle ageing in the 21(st) Century and beyond: considerations and future directions. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2023:1-32. PMID: 37818636.
• Robinson DT, Calkins KL, Chen Y, [et al., including Church DD]. Guidelines for parenteral nutrition in preterm infants: The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition. 2023 47(7):830-858. PMID: 37610837.
• Townsend JR, Kirby TO, Marshall TM, [et al., including Church DD]. Foundational Nutrition: Implications for Human Health. Nutrients. 2023 15(13). PMID: 37447166. PMCID: PMC10343467.
• Giannos P, Prokopidis K, Church DD, [et al.]. Associations of Bioavailable Serum Testosterone With Cognitive Function in Older Men: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2023 78(1):151-157. PMID: 35927217. PMCID: PMC9879757.
• Varanoske AN, Harris MN, Hebert C, [et al., including Church DD]. Testosterone undecanoate administration prevents declines in fat-free mass but not physical performance during simulated multi-stressor military operations. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985). 2022 133(2):426-442. PMID: 35796614. PMCID: PMC9359646.
• Hirsch KR, Church DD, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA. Continuous oral stable isotope ingestion to measure whole-body protein turnover. Clinical nutrition ESPEN. 2022 49:385-389. PMID: 35623841.
• Banks NF, Rogers EM, Church DD, [et al.]. The contributory role of vascular health in age-related anabolic resistance. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle. 2021. PMID: 34951146. PMCID: PMC8818606.
• Osburn SC, Vann CG, Church DD, [et al.]. Proteasome- and Calpain-Mediated Proteolysis, but Not Autophagy, Is Required for Leucine-Induced Protein Synthesis in C2C12 Myotubes. Physiologia. 2021 1(1):22-33. PMID: 34927140. PMCID: PMC8681867.
• Varanoske AN, Harris MN, Hebert C, [et al., including Church DD]. Effects of testosterone undecanoate on performance during multi-stressor military operations: A trial protocol for the Optimizing Performance for Soldiers II study. Contemporary clinical trials communications. 2021 23:100819. PMID: 34278044. PMCID: PMC8264529.
• Church DD, Schutzler SE, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA. Perioperative amino acid infusion reestablishes muscle net balance during total hip arthroplasty. Physiological reports. 2021 9(18):e15055. PMID: 34558214. PMCID: PMC8461212.
• Park S, Church DD, Schutzler SE, [et al.]. Metabolic Evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines' Ounce Equivalents of Protein Food Sources in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of nutrition. 2021 151(5):1190-1196. PMID: 33693735. PMCID: PMC8112772.
• Gwin JA, Church DD, Hatch-McChesney A, [et al.]. Essential amino acid-enriched whey enhances post-exercise whole-body protein balance during energy deficit more than iso-nitrogenous whey or a mixed-macronutrient meal: a randomized, crossover study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2021 18(1):4. PMID: 33413462. PMCID: PMC7791816.
• Park S, Church DD, Starck C, [et al.]. Correction to: The impact of Hayward green kiwifruit on dietary protein digestion and protein metabolism. European journal of nutrition. 2020. PMID: 33306152. PMCID: PMC7900059.
• Church DD, Hirsch KR, Park S, [et al.]. Essential Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis: Insights into Maximizing the Muscle and Whole-Body Response to Feeding. Nutrients. 2020 12(12). PMID: 33276485. PMCID: PMC7760188.
• Hirsch KR, Church DD, Kim IY, [et al.]. Comparison of basal whole-body protein kinetics and muscle protein synthesis between young and older adults. Physiological reports. 2020 8(23):e14633. PMID: 33278070. PMCID: PMC7718838.
• Park S, Church DD, Starck C, [et al.]. The impact of Hayward green kiwifruit on dietary protein digestion and protein metabolism. European journal of nutrition. 2020. PMID: 32970234. PMCID: PMC7900049.
• Gwin JA, Church DD, Wolfe RR, [et al.]. Muscle Protein Synthesis and Whole-Body Protein Turnover Responses to Ingesting Essential Amino Acids, Intact Protein, and Protein-Containing Mixed Meals with Considerations for Energy Deficit. Nutrients. 2020 12(8). PMID: 32824200. PMCID: PMC7469068.
• Gwin JA, Church DD, Hatch-McChesney A, [et al.]. Effects of high versus standard essential amino acid intakes on whole-body protein turnover and mixed muscle protein synthesis during energy deficit: A randomized, crossover study. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2020. PMID: 32768315.
• Beyer KS, Stout JR, Redd MJ, [et al., including Church DD]. Effect of somatic maturity on the aerobic and anaerobic adaptations to sprint interval training. Physiological reports. 2020 8(9):e14426. PMID: 32378353. PMCID: PMC7202988.
• Bagheri R, Moghadam BH, Church DD, [et al.]. The effects of concurrent training order on body composition and serum concentrations of follistatin, myostatin and GDF11 in sarcopenic elderly men. Experimental gerontology. 2020 133:110869. PMID: 32035222.
• Park S, Church DD, Azhar G, [et al.]. Anabolic response to essential amino acid plus whey protein composition is greater than whey protein alone in young healthy adults. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2020 17(1):9. PMID: 32041644. PMCID: PMC7011510.
• Margolis LM, Wilson MA, Whitney CC, [et al., including Church DD]. Acute hypoxia reduces exogenous glucose oxidation, glucose turnover, and metabolic clearance rate during steady-state aerobic exercise. Metabolism: clinical and experimental. 2020 103:154030. PMID: 31778707.