Katherine Motyl, PhD
Faculty Scientist II
Center for Molecular Medicine
Motyl Lab
Furthering our understanding of the brain-bone-metabolism connection.
Motyl Lab Members
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Katherine Motyl, PhDFaculty Scientist II Katherine.Motyl@mainehealth.org Education: |
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Audrie LanglaisGraduate Student Audrie.Langlais@mainehealth.org Audrie Langlais, BS, is a is a PhD candidate in the University of Maine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of New England and joined the Motyl lab in 2018 as a Research Assistant. Audrie’s research focuses on the sensory nervous system interactions with bone, including the role of Trpm8 in skeletal homeostasis, and the effects of opioids on bone metabolism. |
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Becky MountainStaff Scientist I Becky Mountain, PhD, is a staff scientist in the Motyl Lab. She completed her PhD in Anthropology at the University of Arizona in 2019. Her research interests focus on the mechanisms by which increased sympathetic nervous system activity, and psychosocial stress specifically, impact skeletal metabolism and bone loss. Becky is currently investigating how social isolation affects bone metabolism in a rodent model, as well as in human epidemiological cohorts. |
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Ryan NeilsonResearch Associate I Ryan Neilson, BS, is a research assistant in the Motyl Lab. He completed his BS in Biology at the University of Southern Maine. He is interested in the mechanisms involved in beta-adrenergic signaling via sympathetic nervous system activation and the receptors that influence bone resorption. His research focuses on investigating the role of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor (β1AR), and how it may directly promote osteoclast differentiation. |
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Becca PetersGraduate Student Becca Peters, BS, is a University of Maine Biomedical Science PhD student in the Motyl Lab. She completed her BS at the University of New Haven in 2019, double majoring in Forensic Science and Biology. Her research focuses on the role of beta-adrenergic receptor (βAR) signaling in osteoclasts. She is investigating the contribution of osteoclast βARs to sympathetic nervous system and age-related bone loss in vivo. She is also studying how clinically prescribed β-blockers influence osteoclast function. |
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Tyler RoyScientific Manager II Tyler Roy, MS, is a Research Associate III in the Motyl lab. He graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and a BA Psychology from the University of Maine Honors College in 2015. He went on to earn his MS in Biochemistry with a focus in genetics from the University of Maine in 2020. Tyler’s research focuses on how underlying genetics alter the effectiveness of potential osteoporosis therapies. He is currently investigating pharmacogenetic mechanisms of beta blocker efficacy for the prevention of bone loss in post-menopausal women. |