Colleen Croniger, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Nutrition
School of Medicine
Assistant Dean
Basic Science Education
School of Medicine
Assistant Professor
Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
School of Medicine

My research focuses on the development of liver injury and disease as a consequence of obesity or alcohol consumption. We are focused on the role of the macrophage in the development of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We have developed a myeloid specific deletion of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pckl). These mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity and alcohol-induced liver injury. The deletion of Pck1 in the macrophage alters the gut microbiota and reduces the expression of trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TMA is an important gut microbe-dependent metabolite, that is generated from dietary choline, betaine and L-carnitine and is converted to TMAO by hepatic flavin monooxygenases (FMOs). Multiple studies have shown a strong association between high levels of plasma TMA and TMAO with cardiovascular disease. Currently we are investigating the mechanism by which the deleted gene (Pck1 ) in the macrophage alters the gut microbiota and its metabolism.

Teaching Information

Teaching Interests

Development of new interactive teaching pedagogies

Courses Taught

NTRN 452/BIOC452. Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science
Medical School. Block 3 Biochemistry and Nutrition
BIOC 307/407. Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science

Teaching Schedule

Course Code: RESC5000M

Course Title: Research and Scholarship (https://www.datacamp.com/)

Location: Med-Case School of Medicine

Contact: Colleen M Croniger

              Assistant Dean, Office of Medical Student Research

              cmc6@case.edu

Office Hours

By appointment

Research Information

Research Projects

Cross-talk between gut microbiota and macrophages

Recent Funding

NIAAA, Alcohol and tissue injury: from mechanisms to treatments (NOAC), Director of Animal Core 12/05/2020-11/30-2025

Awards and Honors

Scholarship in Teaching Award
2018
School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Kaiser-Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching
2016
Kaiser-Permanente
John S Diekhoff Graduate Teaching Award
2013
Case Western Reserve University
Scholarship in Teaching Award
2008
School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

External Appointments

  • 2010-present: Editorial Board of World Journal of Diabetes
  • 2010-present: Wellcome Trust Scientific Peer Grant Review; London, UK
  • 2014-present: NIH/NIAAA AA-1 Biomedical Research Study Section NIH-NIDDK Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes Study Section
  • 2015-present: Adjunct Departments of Pathobiology and Gastroenterology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Publications

Education

PhD
Molecular Biology
Case Western Reserve University
1991
Bachelor of Arts
Biology
Ursuline College
1984