Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
1) Personal Information:
Home:
Mailing address:
135 Fairview Lane
Davidson, NC 28036
PO Box 2267
Davidson, NC 28036
Office:
500 Laureate Way, Suite 2303
Kannapolis NC 28081
Tel: 704-250-5044
bennettb@email.unc.edu
2) Education
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Los Angeles, 2006-2011, Genetics
PhD, University of Washington, 2006, Nutritional Sciences
Certificate in Public Health Genetics, University of Washington, 2004
MS, University of New Hampshire, 1997, Animal and Nutritional Sciences
BS, Ithaca College, 1995, Exercise Science
3) Professional Experience – Employment History
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Department of Nutrition
Assistant Professor (Joint), 2013-present
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Department of Genetics
Assistant Professor (Primary), 2011-present
Pfizer Animal Health, Business Systems Analyst, 1998-2001
4) Honors
 Junior Faculty Development Award University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, December 2013
 Early Career Investigator Travel Stipend Award, Kern Aspen Lipid Conference, July 2012
 Early Career Investigator Travel Stipend Award, Kern Aspen Lipid Conference, August 2011
 George J. Popjak Fellowship in Research Related to Atherosclerosis, UCLA School of Medicine,
December 2010
 Early Career Investigator Travel Stipend Award, Kern Aspen Lipid Conference, 2009
 Department of Medicine Research Day poster competition, Third Place 1000 honorarium, 2008
 Scholarship to attend Annual Short Course on Systems Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar
Harbor Maine, 2008
 Scholarship to attend 48th Annual Short Course on Medical and Experimental Mammalian
Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor Maine, 2007
 Edith Molton Scholarship, 2004
 Student Representative for the American Association of Nutrition Sciences’ 2003
Graduate Nutrition Education Committee
 Leadership Award, Pfizer Animal Health January, 1999
5) Bibliography and products of scholarship
Refereed Papers/Articles
Original Research
1. Identification of aortic arch-specific quantitative trait loci for atherosclerosis by an intercross of
DBA/2J and 129S6 apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Kayashima Y, Makhanova NA, Matsuki K,
Tomita H, Bennett BJ, Maeda N. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 17;10(2):e0117478.
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
2. Gregory J, Buffa JA, Org E, Wang E, Levison BS, Zhu W, Wagner MA, Bennett BJ, Li L,
DiDonato JA, Lusis AJ, Hazen SL Transmission of atherosclerosis susceptibility with gut
microbial transplantation. J Biol Chem. 2015 Feb 27;290(9):5647-60
3. Shih D; Zeneng Wang; Richard Lee; Meng, Yonghong; Che, Nam; Charugundla, S; Qi H; Wu J;
Pan C; Brown M; Vallim, T; Bennett BJ; Hazen SL. Flavin containing monooxygenase 3 exerts
broad effects on glucose and lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. Journal of Lipid Research.
http://www.jlr.org/content/early/2014/11/06/jlr.M051680.full.pdf+html?sid=6698ffdd-9631-499d87ed-ba0d6d42eff0
4. Smallwood TL, Gatti DM, Quizon P, Weinstock GM, Jung KC, Zhao L, Hua K, Pomp D and
Bennett BJ. High-Resolution Genetic Mapping in the Diversity Outbred Mouse Population
Identifies Apobec1 as a Candidate Gene for Atherosclerosis. G3 (Bethesda). 2014.
5. Mei S, Yang X, Guo H, Gu H, ZhaL , Liu Z, Bennett BJ, He L, Cao W. A Small Amount of Dietary
Carbohydrate Can Promote the HFD-Induced Insulin Resistance to a Maximal Level. 2014
(PLOS One, in press)
6. O’Connor A, Quizon PM, Albright JE, Lin FT, Bennett BJ. Responsiveness of cardiometabolicrelated microbiota to diet is influenced by host genetics. 2014 (Mammalian Genome, in press)
7. Albright J, Quizon P, Lusis AJ, Bennett BJ. Genetic Network Identifies Novel Pathways
Contributing to Atherosclerosis Susceptibility in the Innominate Artery. 2014 (BMC Medical
Genomics, in press)
8. Miller CA, Corbin KD, Costa KA, Zhang S, Zhao X, Galanko JA, Blevins T, Bennett BJ, O’Connor
A, Zeisel SH Effect of egg ingestion on TMAO production in humans: a randomized controlled,
dose-response study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Jun 18. pii: ajcn.087692. [Epub ahead of print])
9. Ghazalpour A,* Bennett BJ,* Shih D, Che N, Orozco L, Pan C, Hagopian R, He A, Kayne P,
Yang WP, Kirchgessner T, Lusis AJ. Genetic control of metabolite levels in mouse liver:
Relationships to transcript levels and cardiometabolic traits. Mol Syst Biol. 2014 May
23;10(5):730. [*co-first authors]
10. Hartiala J, Bennett BJ, Tang WH, Wang Z, Stewart AF, Roberts R, McPherson R, Lusis AJ,
Hazen SL, Allayee H; CARDIoGRAM Consortium. Comparative Genome-Wide Association
Studies in Mice and Humans for Trimethylamine N-oxide, a Pro-Atherogenic Metabolite of
Choline and L-Carnitine. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014 Jun;34(6):1307-13
11. Kayashima Y, Tomita H, Zhilicheva S, Kim S, Kim H, Bennett BJ, Maeda N. Quantitative trait loci
affecting atherosclerosis at the aortic root identified in an intercross between DBA2J and 129S6
apolipoprotein E-null mice. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 20;9(2):e88274
12. Rau CD, Wisniewski N, Orozco LD, Bennett B, Weiss J, Lusis AJ. Maximal information
component analysis: A novel non-linear network analysis method. Front Genet. 2013;4:28.
13. Davis RC, van Nas A, Bennett B, Orozco L, Pan C, Rau CD, Eskin E, Lusis AJ. Genome-wide
association mapping of blood cell traits in mice. Mammalian genome. 2013, 24, 105-118.
14. Parks BW, Nam E, Org E, Kostem E, Norheim F, Hui ST, Pan C, Civelek M, Rau CD, Bennett
BJ, Mehrabian M, Ursell LK, He A, Castellani LW, Zinker B, Kirby M, Drake TA, Drevon CA,
Knight R, Gargalovic P, Kirchgessner T, Eskin E, Lusis AJ. Genetic control of obesity and gut
microbiota composition in response to high-fat, high-sucrose diet in mice. Cell Metab.
2013;17:141-152.
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
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15. Bennett BJ,* Vallim TQdA,* Wang Z, Shih DM, Meng Y, Gregory J, Allayee H, Lee R, Graham
M, Crooke R, Edwards PA, Hazen SL, Lusis AJ. Trimethylamine-n-oxide, a metabolite
associated with atherosclerosis, exhibits complex genetic and dietary regulation. Cell Metab.
2013;17:49-60. [*co-first authors]
16. Calabrese G, Bennett BJ, Orozco L, Kang HM, Eskin E, Dombret C, De Backer O, Lusis AJ,
Farber CR. Systems genetic analysis of osteoblast-lineage cells. PLoS Genet. 2012;8:e1003150
17. Plaisier CL, Bennett BJ, He A, Guan B, Lusis AJ, Reue K, Vergnes L. Zbtb16 promotes brown
adipogenesis and substrate utilization: potential effect on obesity. Nutr Diabetes. 2012
September; 2(9): e46.
18. Orozco LD,* Bennett BJ,* Farber CR, Ghazalpour A, Pan C, Che N, Wen P, Qi HX, Mutukulu A,
Siemers N, Neuhaus I, Yordanova R, Gargalovic P, Pellegrini M, Kirchgessner T, Lusis AJ.
Unraveling Inflammatory Responses using Systems Genetics and Gene-Environment
Interactions in Macrophages. Cell, 2012. 151(3): p. 658-670. [*co-first authors]
19. Ghazalpour, A, Rau CD, Farber CR, Bennett BJ Orozco LD, van Nas A, Pan C, Allayee H,
Beaven SW, Civelek M, Davis RC, Drake TA, Friedman RA, Furlotte N, Hui ST, Jentsch JD,
Kostem E, Kang HM, Kang EY, Joo JW, Korshunov VA, Laughlin RE, Martin LJ, Ohmen JD,
Parks BW, Pellegrini M, Reue K, Smith DJ, Tetradis S, Wang J, Wang Y, Weiss JN,
Kirchgessner T, Gargalovic PS, Eskin E, Lusis AJ, LeBoeuf RC. Hybrid mouse diversity panel: a
panel of inbred mouse strains suitable for analysis of complex genetic traits. Mamm Genome.
2012 Oct; 23 (9-10):680-92.
20. Bennett, BJ, Orozco L, Kostem E, Erbilgin A, Dallinga M, Neuhaus I, Guan B, Wang X, Eskin E,
Lusis AJ. High-resolution association mapping of atherosclerosis Loci in mice. Arterioscler
Thromb Vasc Biol, 2012. 32(8): p. 1790-8.
21. Ghazalpour A,* Bennett B,* Petyuk VA, Orozco L, Hagopian R, Mungrue IN, Farber CR,
Sinsheimer J, Kang HM, Furlotte N, Park CC, Wen PZ, Brewer H, Weitz K, Camp DG 2nd, Pan
C, Yordanova R, Neuhaus I, Tilford C, Siemers N, Gargalovic P, Eskin E, Kirchgessner T, Smith
DJ, Smith RD, Lusis AJ. Comparative Analysis of Proteome and Transcriptome Variation in
Mouse. PLoS Genet. 2011 Jun;7(6):e1001393. Epub 2011 Jun 9. [*co-first authors]
22. Farber CR, Bennett BJ, Orozco L, Zou W, Lira A, Kostem E, Kang HM, Furlotte N, Berberyan A,
Ghazalpour A, Suwanwela J, Drake TA, Eskin E, Wang QT, Teitelbaum SL, Lusis AJ. Mouse
Genome-Wide Association and Systems Genetics Identify Asxl2 As a Regulator of Bone Mineral
Density and Osteoclastogenesis. PLoS Genet. 2011 Apr; 7(4):e1002038. Epub 2011 Apr 7.
23. Wang Z, Klipfell E, Bennett BJ, Koeth R, Levison B, DuGar B, Feldstein AE, Britt EB, Fu X,
Chung YM, Wu Y, Schauer P, Smith JD, Allayee H, Tang WH, DiDonato JA, Lusis AJ, Hazen
SL. Gut flora dependent metabolism of dietary phosphatidylcholine contributes to cardiovascular
disease. Nature 2011. 472, 57-63.
24. Park CC, Gale GD, deJong S, Ghazalpour A, Bennett BJ, Farber CR, Langfelder P, Lin A, Khan
AH, Eskin E, Horvath S, Lusis AJ, Ophoff RA, Smith DJ. Gene networks associated with
conditional fear in mice identified using a systems genetics approach. BMC Syst Biol. 2011 Mar
16;5:43.
25. Yao Y,* Bennett BJ,* Wang X, Rosenfeld ME, Giachelli C, Lusis AJ, Boström KI. Inhibition of
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Protects against Atherosclerosis and Vascular Calcification. Cir
Research Epub June 24, 2010. [*co-first authors]
26. Bennett BJ,* Farber CR,* Orozco L,* Kang H, Ghazalpour A, Siemers N, Neubauer M, Neuhaus
I, Yordanova R, Guan B, Truong A, Yang WP, He A, Kayne P, Gargalovic P, Kirchgessner T,
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
Pan C, Castellani LW, Kostem E, Furlotte N, Drake TA, Eskin E, Lusis AJ. A High Resolution
Association Mapping Panel for the Dissection of Complex Traits in Mice. Genome Res. 2010
Feb; 20(2):281-90. Epub 2010 Jan 6. [*co-first authors]
27. Bennett BJ, Wang SS, Wang XP, Wu X, Lusis AJ. Genetic Regulation of Atherosclerotic Plaque
Size and Morphology in the Innominate Artery of Hyperlipidemic Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc
Biol. 2009; 29:348-355.
28. Averill MM,* Bennett BJ,* Rattazzi M, Rodmyre RM, Kirk EA, Schwartz SM, Rosenfeld ME.
Neither antioxidants nor genistein inhibit the progression of established atherosclerotic lesions in
older apoE deficient mice. Atherosclerosis. 2009; 203(1): 82-88. [*co-first authors]
29. Araujo JA, Barajas B, Kleinman M, Wang X, Bennett BJ, Gong KW, Navab M, Harkema J,
Sioutas C, Lusis AJ, Nel AE. Ambient particulate pollutants in the ultrafine range promote early
atherosclerosis and systemic oxidative stress. Circulation Research. 2008; 102(5):589-596.
30. Shaposhnik Z, Wang X, Weinstein M, Bennett BJ, Lusis AJ. Granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating factor regulates dendritic cell content of atherosclerotic lesions. Arterioscler Thromb
Vasc Biol. 2007;27(3):621-627.
31. Bennett BJ, Scatena M, Kirk EA, Rattazzi M, Varon RM, Averill M, Schwartz SM, Giachelli CM,
Rosenfeld ME. Osteoprotegerin inactivation accelerates advanced atherosclerotic lesion
progression and calcification in older ApoE-/- mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006; 26(9):
2117-2124.
32. Rattazzi M,* Bennett BJ,* Bea F, Kirk EA, Ricks JL, Speer MY, Schwartz SM, Giachelli CM, and
Rosenfeld ME. Calcification of Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Innominate Arteries of
ApoE Deficient Mice: Potential Role of Osteogenic Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005
Jul; 25(7): 1420-5. Epub 2005 Apr 21. [*co-first authors]
33. Bea F, Blessing E, Bennett BJ, Kuo CC, Campbell LA, Kreuzer J, Rosenfeld ME. Chronic
inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 does not alter plaque composition in a mouse model of advanced
unstable atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Res. 2003 Oct 15;60(1):198-204.
34. Bea F, Blessing E, Bennett B, Levitz M, Wallace EP, Rosenfeld ME. Simvastatin promotes
atherosclerotic plaque stability in apoE-deficient mice independently of lipid lowering. Arterioscler
Thromb Vasc Biol 2002 Nov 1;22(11):1832-7.
Other peer reviewed articles:
1. Rosenfeld ME, Averill MM, Bennett BJ, Schwartz SM. Progression and disruption of advanced
atherosclerotic plaques in murine models. Curr Drug Targets. 2008;9(3):210-216.
2. Bennett BJ, Romanoski CE, Lusis AJ. Network-centered view of coronary artery disease. Expert
Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2007; 5(6): 1095-1103.
Published Abstracts:
1. Identification of Genetic Regulators of the Atherosclerosis-Associated Metabolite TrimethylamineN-Oxide in the Diversity Outbred Mice Population. Smallwood TL, Gatti DM, Quizon P,
Weinstock GM, Jung KC, Zhao L, Hua K, Pomp D and Bennett BJ. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis
and Vascular Biology. 2015
2. Network Analysis of Pathways Associated with Genetic Regulation of Trimethylamine-N-Oxide.
Smallwood T, Lamb A, Wright G, Bennett BJ. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular
Biology. 2015
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
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3. A locus on Chromosome 6 in Diversity Outbred Mice Suggests Osteogenic Regulation of
Dystrophic Cardiac Calcinosis. Einagheeb M, O’Connor A, Smallwood T, Bennett BJ.
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2015
4. Parks BW, Bennett BJ, Pan C, Krauss RM, GargalovicP, Kirchgessner T, Lusis AJ. Highdimensional genetic analysis of lipoprotein composition and size in the mouse. Arteriosclerosis
Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2015
5. Mapping metabolic traits in the diversity outbred mouse population. Bennett BJ, Smallwood T,
Quizon P, Pomp D. FASEB J April 2014 28:818.12
6. Towards nutrigenomics: studies to identify gene-diet interactions affecting susceptibility to
cardiovascular disease. Bennett BJ, Corbin K, Smallwood T, O’Connor A, Zeisel S. FASEB J
April 2014 28:373.4
7. Diet and genetic-induced differences in the intestinal microbiome relate to cardiometabolic
phenotype. O’Connor A, Lin F, Quizon P, Nestor A, Albright J, Bennett BJ. FASEB J April 2014
28:637.13
8. Packard R, Bennett BJ, Civelek M, Pan C, Davis R, Lusis AJ. Systems Genetics Analysis Of
Atherosclerosis Using A Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel. Circulation 2013
9. Bennett BJ, Farber CR, Orozco L, Lusis AJ. High Resolution Genetic Mapping Strategies for
Metabolic Disease in Mice: Towards Association Based Studies. Circulation. 2008;118:S566
10. Araujo JA, Barajas B, Kleinman M, Wang XP, Bennett BJ, Gong KW, Navab M, Harkema J,
Sioutas C, Lusis AJ, Nel A. Ambient particulate pollutants in the ultrafine range promote
atherosclerosis and systemic oxidative stress. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular
Biology. 2007; 27: E39.
11. Averill MM, Bennett BJ, Varon RM, Rattazzi M, Rosenfeld ME. Resistance of advanced
atherosclerotic lesions in older apolipoprotein E-deficient mice to dietary antioxidant treatment.
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2006; 26: E100.
12. Bennett BJ, Kirk EA, Rattazzi M, Varon R, Averill M, Giachelli C, Rosenfeld ME. Inactivation of
matrix gla protein promotes chondroplastic conversion and calcification of atherosclerotic lesions
in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:
E94.
13. Bennett BJ, Varon R, Averill M, Rattazzi M, Kirk E, Giachelli C, Rosenfeld ME. Dietary
supplementation with genistein reduces aortic calcium content but does not inhibit the
progression of advanced atherosclerotic lesions in older ApoE-/- mice. Arteriosclerosis
Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:E100-E101.
14. Scatena M, Bennett B, Hyunh D, Rosenfeld ME, Giachelli CM. Osteoprotegerin: A Modulator of
Vascular and Inflammatory Cell Behavior. Abstracts of the 7th Annual Conference on
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006;26
15. Bennett BJ, Rattazzi M, Kirk EA, Bea F, Speer MY, Giachelli CM, Rosenfeld ME. Chondrocytelike cells and calcification of advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the innominate arteries of older
ApoE-null mice. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2004;24:P427.
16. Rattazzi M, Bennett B, Bea F, Campbell LA, Kuo CC, Pauletto P, Giachelli CM, Rosenfeld ME.
Infection of macrophages with Chlamydia pneumoniae may contribute to vascular calcification
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
and the conversion of smooth muscle cells to an osteoblast/chondrocyte-like phenotype.
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2004;24:P432.
17. Bennett B, Ronan AM, Tagliaferro AR. Dietary fat, DHEA, and substrate utilization. American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997; 66: 75.
In Press
1. Zhou X, Crow AL, Spindler TJ, Hartiala J, Barsky LW, Bennett BJ, Parks BS, Ghazalpour A, Eskin
E, Jian R, Epstein JA, Lusis AJ, Adams GB, Allayee H. The Genetic Landscape of Hematopoietic
Stem Cell Frequency in Mice.
2. Orozco L , Morselli M, Rubbi L, Guo W, Go J, Shi H Furlotte NA, Lopez D, Bennett BJ, Farber
CR, Ghazalpour A, Lusis AJ, Pellegrini M. Epigenome-wide association of complex metabolic
traits in mice
Submitted
1. Bennett BJ, Davis RC, Civelek M, Orozco L, Wu J, Qi H, Pan C, Packard R, Eskin E, Kirchgessner
T, Hazen S, Gargalovic P, Lusis AJ. Genetic architecture of atherosclerosis in mice: A systems
genetics analysis of common inbred strains
Invited Presentations
 Using system genetic approaches to understand gene x diet interactions. Fralin Translational
Obesity Research Center, Virginia Tech University. April, 2015.
 Gene-diet-environment Interactions in Chronic Metabolic Diseases. Nutrition and the Science of
Disease Prevention: A systems approach to support metabolic health. The New York Academy
of Sciences, April, 2015
 Systems Genetic studies of Atherosclerosis and the novel Plasma Metabolite trimethylamine Noxide (TMAO). International Mammalian Genome Society. Bar Harbor, ME. October 2014
 Towards nutrigenomics: studies to identify gene-diet interactions affecting susceptibility to
cardiovascular disease. Experimental Biology. San Diego, California. April 2014
 Genetic and Metabolite Pathways Regulating Atherosclerosis. Presented at translating
Application of Novel Approaches to Metabolic Disease and Oncology Research Symposium.
Sponsored by Crown Bioscience and the David H. Murdock Research Institute. Kannapolis, NC,
January 2014
 Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) Metabolism and Atherogenesis: Genetic and Dietary
Regulation. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Dallas, Texas November, 2013
 Unifying genetic and metabolite pathways regulating atherosclerosis. Wake Forest Department of
Pathology, Winston Salem, NC. February, 2013
 Diet, genes and bugs: How do choline metabolites affect atherosclerosis. UNC McAllister Heart
Institute. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. April 2013

Nutrigenomics: Understanding how diet influences gene expression and disease susceptibility.
Department of Genetics/Curriculum in Genetics & Molecular Biology Scientific Retreat At The
Beach. Myrtle Beach, SC. September 2012
 Systems Genetic Approaches for Identification of Atherosclerosis Susceptibility Genes. Gordon
Research Conference on Atherosclerosis. NH. June 2009.
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
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Poster Presentations
1. Identification of Genetic Regulators of the Atherosclerosis-Associated Metabolite Trimethylamine
N-oxide in the Diversity Outbred Mouse Population. Smallwood T, Gatti DM, Quizon P, Jung
KC, Zhao L, Hua K, Pomp D, Bennett BJ. NIEHS Population-Based Rodent Resources for
Environmental Health Sciences Meeting. March 2015
2. High-Resolution Genetic Mapping of Atherosclerosis in the Diversity Outbred Mouse Population
Smallwood T, Gatti DM, Quizon P, Jung KC, Zhao L, Hua K, Pomp D, Bennett BJ. IMGS
meeting, Bar Harbor Me October 2014
3. Mapping cardiometabolic traits in the diversity outbred mouse population. Smallwood T, Quizon
P, Hua K, Pomp D, Bennett BJ. Experimental Biology. San Diego, California. April 2014
4. Mapping metabolic traits in the Diversity Outbred Mouse Population, Smallwood T, Quizon P,
Hua K, Pomp D, Bennett BJ, International Mammalian Genomics Conference, September 1518th, 2013.
5. High-Resolution Association Mapping of Atherosclerosis Loci in Mice. Bennett BJ, Davis RC,
Lusis AJ. Kern Aspen Lipid Conference, Aspen, CO. August, 2012
6. Complex regulation of trimethylamine-N-oxide, a bacterial metabolite associated with
atherosclerosis, in humans and mice. Bennett BJ, Vallim T, Wang Z, Qi H, Hazen S, Lusis AJ.
Kern Aspen Lipid Conference, Aspen, CO. August 2011
7. Common variations of the FMO3 gene contribute to atherosclerosis in female mice by influencing
TMAO levels. Bennett BJ, Orozco O, Wang Z, Ghazalpour, Kostem E, Hazen S, Lusis AJ.
Gordon Conference-Quantitative Genetics & Genomics From Genome to Phenotype. Galveston,
TX. February 2011
8. High Resolution Systems Genetics Studies of Lipoproteins Levels and Functional Properties in
Mice. Bennett BJ, Castellani LW, Shih D, Orozco L, Farber CR, Lusis AJ. Kern Aspen Lipid
Conference, Aspen, CO. August, 2009.
9. Genetic networks induced by LPS and oxPAPC in primary mouse macrophages
Bennett BJ, Orozco L, Lusis AJ LIPID MAPS Meeting: Lipidomics Impact on Cell Biology,
Structural Biochemistry and Immunopathology. San Diego, CA. May, 2009.
10. High Resolution Genetic Mapping Strategies For Metabolic Disease in Mice. Bennett BJ, Farber
CR, Orozco L, Kang H, Kostem E, Eskin E, Lusis AJ. FASEB Summer Research Conference:
Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Nutrient Control of Cellular Function. Carefree, AZ. July,
2008.
11. Identification of Atherosclerosis Susceptibility and Cellular Morphology Loci in the Innominate
Artery of Hyperlipidemic Mice Bennett BJ, Wang S, Wang X, Lusis AJ. 48th Annual Short
Course on Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor
ME. July, 2007.
12. Identification of Atherosclerosis Susceptibility Loci in the Innominate Artery of Hyperlipidemic
Mice Bennett BJ, Wang S, Wang X, Lusis AJ. Gordon Conference on Atherosclerosis, Il Cicco
Italy. June, 2007.
13. Lack of Osteoprotegrin Accelerates Progression of Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions in the
Innominate Arteries of Older ApoE-/- Mice. Bennett BJ, Kirk EA, Rattazzi M, Varon RM, Averill
M, Giachelli CM, Rosenfeld ME. Keystone Conference on The Cellular Biology of
Atherosclerosis (A7), Keystone, CO. January, 2005.
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
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Teaching Record:
Course Director
 2014-2016 Course Director, NUTR 696: Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry-Nutrigenomics
7 graduate students, 2 credit hours.
Lecture at UNC
 2013 Lecturer, PHYI 702: Experimental Physiology of Health and Disease
 2013 Lecturer, PATH 667: Pathobiology of Cardiovascular Disease
 2012 Lecturer, BCB 710: Bioinformatics Colloquium, Network approaches to chronic diseases:
genetic regulation of inflammation”. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
 2012 Lecturer, Genetics Department Research Colloquia “Cardiovascular disease: What I eat vs
who I am. Modeling gene x diet interactions”
Lecture Prior to UNC
 2009 Guest Lecturer, CM222, “Mouse Models of Genetics” University of California, Los Angeles
 2005 Guest Lecturer, Nutrition 522, “Nutrition and Metabolism” University of Washington
 2003 Teaching Assistant, Nutrition 300, “Nutrition for Today” University of Washington
 1995-1996 Teaching Assistant, Nutrition “Food and People” University of New Hampshire
Trainee Mentoring-Current
Graduate Students
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill- PhD Students
 2014Alisha Coffey, Student Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC
Chapel Hill.
Role: Co-mentor with Praveen Sethupathy
Project: microRNA regulation of FGF21

2012-2015
Tangi Smallwood, PhD Student Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology,
UNC Chapel Hill.
Role: mentor.
Project title: Identification of genetic loci regulating atherosclerosis susceptibility
QTL mapping in a diet-induced model of atherosclerosis using a genetically
diverse, outbred mouse population.
Current Position: Post Doctoral Fellow University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

2013-
Bailey Peck, PhD Student Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology,
UNC Chapel Hill.
Role: Committee member

2013-
Liyang Zhao, MS Student Department of Nutrition, UNC Chapel Hill.
Role: Committee member
Current Position: Doctoral Student University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Trainee Mentoring - Previous
Postdoctoral fellows, present position:
 2013 - 2014
Annalouise O’Connor, PhD, Industry

2012
Sami Dridi, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
Undergraduate students:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15

2014
Allison Brindle, Biology 293 Student
Project title: “Effects of TMAO on renal function and gene expression”

2012-2014
Marwa Einagheeb Biology 293 Student.
Project title: “Dystrophic cardiac calcification in the Diversity Outbred mouse
population”

2012
Braden Zahora. Summer student helper.
Project title: “Aortic expression of Desmin”
University of North Carolina, Charlotte- Bioinformatics Interns
 2013
Fredrick Linn, MS Student, Department of Bioinformatics, UNC Charlotte
Project title: Microbial diversity and hyperlipidemia

2012-2013
Kristen Roop MS Student, Department of Bioinformatics, UNC Charlotte
Project title: Identification of novel genes and pathways relevant for
cardiovascular disease using RNA-seq and co-expression analysis
University of California, Los Angeles
 2010-2011
Kristy Ou, 199 project:
“Genetic Regulation of β-hydroxybutyrate in HMDP Mouse Population.”

2010- 2011
Janahan Vijanderan, 199 project:
“Atherosclerosis characterization among common Mouse Strains.”

2008- 2009
Amanda Crow, 199 research project:
“Atherosclerosis-specific genetic pathways in human macrophages induced by
LPS”

2007-2009
John Fritch, 199 research project: “Cardiac calcium content used for genomewide association study”

2006-2008
Ali Akram, 199 research project: “Oxidized Lipids Induce Variable Response of
Inflammatory Gene Expression in Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells”
7) Grants
External Funding
Ongoing Support
P30 DK 056350 (Zeisel, PI)
09/30/99 - 03/31/16
5% Effort
NIH/ NIDDK
UNC Nutrition Obesity Research Center: provides expertise and core services enhancing conduct of
animal and human nutrition research at UNC.
Role: Core Co-Director
1-14-BS-026 (Cao, PI)
01/01/2014-12/31/2015
3% Effort
ADA
100,000 (annual direct costs)
Title: Role of insulin and carbohydrates in formation and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. This
project focuses on the role of insulin in modulating atherosclerotic plaque morphology and cellular
composition.
Role: Co-Investigator
4R00HL102223 (B.J. Bennett, PI)
NIH/NHLBI
4/15/2012-3/31/2015
171,000 (annual direct costs)
75% Effort
9
Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
Title: High-Resolution Systems Genetic Studies of Atherosclerotic Lesion Composition. This project
focuses on the use of natural variations in mice to identify genetic factors contributing to atherosclerosis
using a dominant hyperlipidemia model. Two genes identified in this manner, CD44 and FMO3, are being
characterized at the molecular level.
Pending Support
15-1548 (Arendshorst, PI)
AHA Hypertension-Research-Network
Role: Co-Investigator
15% Effort
300,000 (annual direct costs)
1R01HL128572-01 (Bennett, PI)
NIH/NHLBI
250,000 (annual direct costs)
Systems Genetic Studies of TMAO regulation and Atherosclerosis
Pending IRG Review
20% Effort
14-4844 (B.J. Bennett, PI)
4/1/15-3/31/2020
20% Effort
NIH/NHLBI
499,999 (annual direct costs)
Title: Genetics, dietary perturbation, trimethylamine n-oxide and cardiovascular disease. Successful
completion of the proposed aims will provide detailed mechanistic, genetic, and clinical insights into the
regulation of TMAO’s metabolism and potential for novel therapeutic targets for CVD and potentially a
basis for personalized nutritional recommendations.
Unfunded- 31%percentile
14-5302 (Makoski, PI)
1/15/2015-1/14/2020
5% Effort
American Diabetes Association
Title: Role of FATP1 in macrophage metabolic reprogramming and diabetes. This proposal will test the
hypothesis that macrophage fatty acid metabolism plays a critical role in suppressing inflammation and
maintaining insulin sensitivity. Role: Co-Investigator
14-4960 (B.J. Bennett, PI)
1/1/2015-12/31/17
20% Effort
American Heart Association
250,000(annual direct costs)
Title: Investigations of genetic and dietary factors on trimethylamine N-oxide levels and cardiovascular
disease risk in an ethnically diverse population. This study investigates the role of TMAO and diet in the
Jackson Heart Study.
Unfunded- resubmission June 2015
Pending (B.J. Bennett, PI)
1/1/2015-12/31/17
5% Effort
Gilead Research Scholars in Cardiovascular Disease 65,000 (annual direct costs)
Title: Desmin expression regulates atherosclerosis susceptibility through a genetic network. This
proposal tests a candidate gene for atherosclerosis identified by high-resolution genetic mapping in mice
Unfunded- resubmission Aug 2015
Completed Support
P30DK056350 (B.J. Bennett, PI)
4/1/2013-3/30/2014
5% Effort
UNC NORC Pilot/Feasibility Grant
20,000 (annual direct costs)
Title: High Resolution Genetic Mapping of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), A Novel Metabolite
Associated with Atherosclerosis. This study investigated the genetic regulation of TMAO in the Diversity
Outbred mouse population
550KR31210
7/1/2012-6/30/2013
NCtraCS
(N. Mackman, PI)
50,000 (annual direct costs)
Title: Role of the Tissue Factor/FVIIa-PAR-2 Pathway in Obesity
0% Effort
1K99HL102223 (B.J. Bennett, PI)
NIH/NHLBI
100% Effort
12/1/2010-12/1/2011
100,000 (annual direct costs)
10
Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
Title: High-Resolution Systems Genetic Studies of Atherosclerotic Lesion Composition. This project
focuses on the use of natural variations in mice to identify genetic factors contributing to atherosclerosis
using a dominant hyperlipidemia model. Two genes identified in this manner, CD44 and FMO3, are being
characterized at the molecular level.
T32-DK-07789 (I Kurtz, PI)
2008-2009
100% Effort
NIH/NIDDK
38,000 (salary only)
Title: High-Resolution Systems Genetic Studies of mice. This project was to develop the hybrid mouse
diversity panel of mice for high-resolution genetic mapping in mice
No grant number (B. Bennett, PI)
2007-2008
100% Effort
Phillip Morris Post Doctoral Fellowship
40,000 (salary only)
Title: Temporal and Tissue Specific Roles of Macrophages Colony Stimulating Factor During
Inflammation and Atherosclerosis: The overall goal of this proposal is to further define the temporal and
cell specific role of macrophage colony stimulating factor-1 (MCSF) during atherosclerotic plaque initiation
and development. I propose that 1) MCSF produced by vascular cells is a key mediator of atherosclerotic
plaque initiation and 2) MCSF expression in advanced lesions may destabilize atherosclerotic plaques
0315238Z (B. Bennett, PI)
2003-2005
100% Effort
American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship
(salary only)
Title: The potential role of phytoestrogens in modulating calcification of advanced atherosclerotic plaques
The overall goal of this proposal was to study the effects of phytoestrogens on vascular calcification in
ApoE-/- mice.
8) Professional Service
To discipline
Manuscript Reviewer:
 Nutrition and Diabetes (1)
 Nutrition and Metabolism (1)
 Circulation Cardiovascular Genetics (2)
 BMC Research Notes (1)
 Plos One
(3)
 Diabetes
(1)
 Journal of Lipid Research (7)
 Atherosclerosis (5)
 ATVB (2)
 BMC Genomics (2)
 European Journal of Clinical Investigation (1)
 Genome Biology (1)
2014
2015
2015
2014
2014-2015
2013
2011-2013
2011-2013
2012
2008-2012
2010
2008
Grant Reviews:
 American Egg Board May 2014
 NIH Study Section March 2014
o Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System Study Section
 American Heart Association 2013-2015
o Lipids and Lipoprotein Basic Science 1 Peer Review Study Group
o Biannual grant reviews (April and October)
University of North Carolina
Grant Reviews:
 Nctracs KL2-Bircwh Grant review
2013
Committees:
Chapel Hill
 BBSP Admissions Committee
2014
11
Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
Nutrition Research Institute
 Institute Internal Review Committee
2014
This committee provided a comprehensive review of the Institute and of Dr. Zeisel’s leadership of
the NRI.
 Chair- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Research Track Faculty Position 2014
 Search Committee member- Nutrition and Cancer
2015
 Mission Statement Committee
2013
Chair of funding group
Seminar Series
Topics in High Throughput Biology
2013-2014
This seminar is for scientists on the North Carolina Research Campus and surrounding
institutions and provides an opportunity to identify common research interests, establish
collaborations, and to provide training opportunities to postdocs, Ph.D students, and
scientists. The journal club meets once a month. This is currently being reorganized
Nutrition Research Institute, First Annual Faculty Seminar Series
2013
This seminar series is designed to increase scientific discussion and interactions among
faculty at the Nutrition Research Institute. My colleague, Wenhong Cao, and myself were
responsible for inviting and coordinating visits for 5 faculty members from peer institutions.
Professional Membership
 American Heart Association:
o Functional Genomics
o Council for Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
 American Association for the Advancement of Science
 European Atherosclerosis Society
 North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBIO)
201320072011-2013
2009-2011
2009-2011
Community Service
 Invited Talk. “Your Parents and Your Diet: How Genetics and Diet Relate to Cardiovascular Risk.”
Appetite for Life Academy. Kannapolis, NC. February 2013
 Invited Talk. “Genetic Studies in Bennett Lab”, Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce Kannapolis,
NC. October 2012
 Invited Talk. “Future research at the Nutrition Research Institute”, Kannapolis Rotary Club, February
2012
9) Research Statement
The primary interest of my laboratory is to understand the both genetic and environmental risk factors for
metabolic diseases, specifically obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis. I am particularly interested in using
integrative genetic studies, also called systems genetics, to elucidate the genetic component of these
chronic metabolic diseases and how environment affects genetic susceptibility. I have a long-standing
interest in how diet modifies disease risk and it is commonly accepted that a poor diet increases risk of
many diseases. However, understanding which diet is optimum for health requires an understanding of
the underlying genetic architecture of the individual. More simply, the definition of an optimum diet is
dependent on an individual’s genetics. Thus, a long-term goal of my lab is to understand the interactions
between diet and genetics polymorphisms that lead to increased disease risk. An integrative systems
approach enables us to evaluate how diet and genetics, interact across multiple scales of data
(transcriptional, proteomic, metabolomics or even meta-genomic) to affect susceptibility. The goal of this
work is to identify individual genes and/or the interaction of groups of genes, also called biologic
networks, contributing to chronic disease. My laboratory uses a variety of techniques to study metabolic
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Brian J. Bennett, PhD
Curriculum Vitae
Revised 4/23/15
disease including molecular biology, genetic crosses of mouse strains and bioinformatics. My personal
philosophy is to use the best tools possible to achieve our goals and to maximize the resources in the
laboratory to enhance creative thought and productivity.
10) Teaching Statement
Currently we are experiencing an epidemic of chronic diseases such as: obesity, diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. I believe that the societal and economic impact of these diseases needs to be
addressed through both rigorous research and public health education. The ability to impact these
chronic diseases through my own basic research and/or education of students is my primary motivation
for pursuing an academic career. I feel strongly that one area in which I may have an immediate impact
on chronic disease is through teaching. I can still remember the instructor who sparked my interest in
studying nutrition as an undergraduate at Ithaca College and I thoroughly enjoyed teaching Food and
People, a basic nutrition course that fulfilled a science general requirement at the University of New
Hampshire.
As we enter this post-genomic era, I believe that a firm background in genetics and genomics will become
an increasingly important aspect of student’s education in the biological sciences. To facilitate educating
the next generation of Health Professionals and Scientists I have developed a course entitled
“Nutrigenomics.” This course focuses on the effect of diet on gene expression, and nutrigenetics, how
genetic differences affect nutrient uptake and metabolism. It combines instructor and student led
presentations focused on how diet and underlying genetics interact to affect molecular phenotypes and
ultimately susceptibility to disease. I plan to offer this course on a yearly basis in the Spring semester.
Another important aspect of my teaching is my mentoring of graduate students and post-doctoral
trainees. I believe that some of the best learning is done “hands-on” so to speak in the laboratory. I have
a successful record of mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in
my laboratory at UNC and I truly believe that students really learn about science by practicing the
scientific method. Thus, I am committed to creating a laboratory that embraces students and provides
them with experiences that will make them competitive for careers in academia and industry. From my
experience, students really thrive in the lab once they understand the basic aspects of the problem they
are engaged in solving; its impact to science/health, and most importantly have some ownership of the
project. I look forward to continuing to mentor trainees as part of my laboratory’s research program.
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