Spencer Proctor, PhD

Email

proctor@ualberta.ca

Phone

(780) 492-4672

Address

4-002J Li Ka Shing Centre For Research

8602 112 Street NW

Edmonton AB

T6G 2E1

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Email

proctor@ualberta.ca

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: 

1.  Absorption/metabolism of dietary lipids in health, cardiovascular risk and the Metabolic Syndrome. 
2.  Interaction of lipids with arterial vessels during atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. 
3.  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:

2016              
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 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

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

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