Spencer Proctor, PhD
Contact
Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Ag, Food & Nutri Sci Dept
- proctor@ualberta.ca
- Phone
- (780) 492-4672
- Address
-
4-002J Li Ka Shing Centre For Research
8602 112 Street NWEdmonton ABT6G 2E1
Division Dir - Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Ag, Food & Nutri Sci Dept
- proctor@ualberta.ca
Overview
About
DEGREE:
PhD, Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth
BIOSKETCH:
Dr. Spencer Proctor trained as a physiologist and cardiovascular scientist in both Australia and Canada. He was appointed to the Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition at the University of Alberta in 2004 and founded the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (MCVD) Laboratory. Dr. Proctor’s research program spans a unique continuum of expertise in the areas of nutrition, metabolism, physiology, behaviour, food health and chronic disease.
Areas of focus include:
- Absorption/metabolism of dietary lipids in health, cardiovascular risk and the Metabolic Syndrome.
- Interaction of lipids with arterial vessels during atherosclerosis and insulin resistance.
- Novel bio-activity of dietary fatty acids and impact to the Metabolic Syndrome.
For more information visit: The Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (MCVD) Laboratory (mcvd.ualberta.ca)
MAJOR SCIENTIFIC AWARDS, PRIZES & RECOGNITION:
International Atherosclerosis Society-Visiting Fellowship Awards, Host Laboratory
2015-2017
President: Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
2015
Young Investigator Award: Canadian Nutrition Society (June 2015)
2015
83rd European Atherosclerosis Society (Glasgow): Abstract Award (April 2015)
2014
Simon-Pierre Noel Lectureship: Canadian Lipoprotein Conference (October 2014)
2012
Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science Graduate Student Mentor Award
2009-2014
New Investigator Award. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
2008
4th Biannual Wiebe Visser International Dairy Nutrition Prize
2008
Nominated by Dairy Farmers of Canada for 4th Biannual Wiebe Visser Intl. Dairy Nutrition Prize
2008
Local Organizing Chair, International Symposium for Chylomicrons in Disease
SELECT MEMBERSHIP AND COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION:
2004-Present
Director, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases Laboratory, University of Alberta
2004-Present
Member, Animal Care and Use Committee-Livestock, University of Alberta
2004-Present
Principal Member, Alberta Diabetes Institute
2006-Present
Scientific Review Committee, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
2007-Present
Primary Member, University of Alberta SCOLAR and MCBL Group
2006-Present
Founding Member, International Symposium on Chylomicron in Disease
2008-Present
Reviewer, Innovation Grant Advisory Committee, Women & Children’s Hlth Research Institute
2009-Present
Committee Member, Alberta Diabetes Research Coordinating Committee
2009-Present
Committee Member, University Animal Policy & Welfare Committee, University of Alberta
2009-Present
Member, Scientific Review Committee for Dairy Management Inc, United States
2009-Present
Member, International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids
2009-Present
Member, Canadian Society for Nutritional Science
2009-Present
Director, Executive Comm., Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
2009-Present
Member, Editorial Board, The Open Atherosclerosis & Thrombosis Journal
2010-Present
Member, American Heart Association
2010-Present
Scientific Member, American Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
2010-Present
Scientific Member, International Atherosclerotic Society
2010-Present
Associate Member, American Society for Nutrition
2013-Present
Committee Member, Scientific Review Committee-Nutrition, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
2014-Present
Deputy Editor (& Co-Chair), British Journal of Nutrition, Cambridge University, UK
2017-2018
Past President, Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
2015-2018
Member Strategic Planning Committee, International Atherosclerosis Society 2018 (ISA 2018)
2015-Present
Scientific Member, Nutrition Funding Program Review Committee, Dairy Farmers of Canada
2015-Present
Director, Division of Nutrition, Dept. Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta
2016-Present
Scientific Reviewer, Interim Report Committee, Alberta Innovates, Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM)
Research
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:
• We have been the first to provide visual evidence that intestinally derived cholesterol particles (chylomicrons) penetrate arterial tissue after hydrolysis to their smaller remnant form, and therefore contribute to the atherogenic process.
• We have pioneered new fluorescent imaging techniques together with the application of confocal microscopy to assess the interaction of lipoprotein particles in arterial vessels that lead to the discovery that properties of vascular biology during disease (hypercholesterolemia and diabetes) can alter the rate at which lipoproteins become trapped in arterial vessels.
• We continue to contribute to studies that correlate raised levels of chylomicron particles (measured as apolipoprotein-B48) and risk of heart disease in numerous clinical conditions.
• We have developed a model of over-production of intestinal derived cholesterol particles (lipoproteins) during insulin resistance that is thought to contribute to dyslipidemia and CVD risk.
• We have discovered lipid lowering properties of trans-11 vaccenic acid, a ruminant (natural) trans-fat that is commonly found in dairy products.
RESEARCH SUMMARY:
Dr. Proctor and the MCVD Laboratory are contributing to the link between Nutrition and dietary-related chronic disease such as obesity and overweight to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Traditionally, (bad or LDL-type cholesterol (made by the liver) has been viewed as the primary fasting end point associated with predicting CVD risk. However, as many half those diagnosed with a cardiac event have (normal circulating concentrations of LDL cholesterol, suggesting other factors are at work. Indeed recent epidemiological evidence suggests that non-fasting lipids (following absorption from the intestine) more accurately predict CVD risk than traditional indices. Dr. Proctor and his team (together in collaboration with Dr. Donna Vine, Nutrition, UofA) has been one of the first to contribute to the fact that intestinal lipoproteins (chylomicrons; that function to absorb and transport dietary lipids) are involved in the accumulation of lipid in arterial vessels during CVD. They continue to explore broad nutritional aspects (including clinical studies in collaboration with Dr. Geoff Ball Pediatrics UofA) that might impact on the secretion and metabolism of dietary lipids and their consequence to overweight and CVD risk (and/or the Metabolic Syndrome).
Please see ResearchGate for more information: Click Here
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS: Click Here
CURRENT SERIES OF PROJECTS: Click Here
Teaching
SELECT FORMAL GRADUATE & UNDERGRADUATE COURSES TAUGHT:
Biochemistry 655
Advances in Lipid and Lipoprotein Research: Journal Club style graduate level literature review course (allocated dyslipidemia and chronic disease module)
Winter 2008-Present (except 2012 & winter 2018-sabbatical)
Guest Instructor
Agriculture Food and Nutritional Science 570
Graduate level research model course
Winter & Fall 2006-Present (except 2012 & winter 2018-sabbatical)
Module Instructor and Coordinator
Nutrition 301/303
Fundamentals of nutritional Biochemistry and metabolism I: Fundamentals of nutrition, emphasizing energy, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Nutrition and dietetic laboratories
Fall 2006-Present (except 2012-sabbatical)
Instructor and Coordinator
Nutrition 302/304
Fundamentals of nutritional Biochemistry and metabolism II: Fundamentals of nutrition with emphasis on vitamins and inorganic elements. Nutrition and dietetic laboratories
Winter 2006-Present (except 2012 & 2018 sabbatical)
Instructor and Joint Coordinator
GRADUATE STUDENTS SUPERVISED: Click Here
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS SUPERVISED: Click Here
Announcements
CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR OUR CHILDHOOD LIPID RISK STUDY
Is your child able to efficiently metabolize dietary fat? There is a simple way to find out and take actions as excess fat in the body is closely linked with heart disease and other health problems...
The University of Alberta, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (MCVD) Laboratory is currently recruiting for a 1 day clinical trial and your child maybe eligible to participate...
Inclusion Criteria:
• Between the ages of 10-14
• Healthy-weight or overweight
• Active or inactive
If you would like more information or have your child to be a part of this study please contact us @ 587-921-5245 or childlipidstudy@ualberta.ca
Courses
AFNS 570 - Experimental Procedures in Nutrition and Metabolism
Current methodologies in nutrition and metabolism. Prerequisites: NUTR 301 and NUTR 302, or consent of instructor.
NUTR 301 - Fundamentals of Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism I
Fundamentals of nutrition, emphasizing energy, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The lab will use common techniques to illustrate principles of human nutrition. Not to be taken if credit received for NUTR 303. Prerequisites: BIOCH 200 and PHYSL 210. Pre- or corequisite: BIOCH 310.
NUTR 302 - Fundamentals of Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism II
Fundamentals of nutrition with emphasis on vitamins and inorganic elements. The lab will use common techniques to illustrate principles of human nutrition. Not to be taken if credit received for NUTR 304. Prerequisites: BIOCH 310 and NUTR 301.
NUTR 304 - Fundamentals of Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism II
Fundamentals of nutrition with emphasis on vitamins and inorganic elements. Not to be taken if credit received for NUTR 302. Prerequisites: BIOCH 310 and PHYSL 210. NUTR 303 or NU FS 305 recommended.