Connie J Rogers

College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Nutritional Sciences

Professor and Department Head, Bill and June Flatt Professor of Nutritional Sciences

Bill and June Flatt Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Department Head

Education

Degree Field of Study Institution Graduation
Ph.D. Cell Biology and Physiology University of Pittsburgh 1998
M.P.H. Epidemiology University of Pittsburgh 2003
M.S. Physiology Penn State University 1992
B.S. Biology Penn State University 1990

Research

My laboratory is exploring the role of changes in energy balance, (i.e. obesity, exercise and dietary restriction) and various nutritional interventions on inflammatory mediators, metabolic hormones, and immune pathway in breast cancer using both animal models and human subjects. A second focus area of my laboratory is to explore if and how several nutritional factors modulate inflammatory and immune responses in humans at risk of cardiometabolic disease and osteoporosis.

Teaching

First Year Odyssey Seminar (FYOS 1001) entitled "Food is Medicine"

Prior Professional Positions

Organization Title Years of Service
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University Professor 2022
Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University Associate Director 2018-2022
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University Associate Professor 2016-2022
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University Assistant Professor 2010-2015
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology & Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Senior Research Fellow 2008-2010
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology & Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Cancer Prevention Fellow 2004-2008

Awards

Award Name Awarded By Year Awarded
Women’s Leadership Fellow University of Georgia 2023
Collaborative Research Award College of Medicine, Penn State University 2021
Russell Klein Research Award Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Ohio State University 2017
Teaching Excellence Award College of Health & Human Development, Penn State University 2017
Collaborative Research Award College of Medicine, Penn State University 2016
Teaching Excellence Award Teaching Excellence Award, Office of Undergraduate Programs and Outreach, Penn State University 2015
Chair, Diet and Cancer, Research Interest Section American Society for Nutrition 2013
Broadhurst Career Development Professorship College of Health & Human Development, Penn State University 2010
NCI Technology Transfer Award National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 2009
NCI Merit Award National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 2008

Editorial Appointments

Position Name of Journal Year(s)
Editorial Board Member Recent Progress in Nutrition 2021-present
Editorial Board Member International Journal of Health and Nutrition 2013-2016

Service

Organization Title Year(s) Service Type
American Institute for Cancer Research Grant Review Panel Member 2018-2023
American Cancer Society Grant Review Panel Member 2021-2022
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Program Review Panel Member 2022
National Cancer Insitute, NIH Grant Review Panel Member, A Special Emphasis Panel NIH Research Enhancement Award (R15) in Oncological Sciences 2022
Microbiome Center, Penn State University Executive Committee 2017-2022
Communication, Science, and Society Initiative, Penn State University Executive Committee 2019-2022
National Cancer Insitute, NIH Ad hoc grant reviewer, Cancer Prevention Study Section 2021
USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Panel Reviewer, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Portfolio 2020
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Office of Scientific Quality Review (OSQR) Panel Reviewer, Human Nutrition, ARS Project Plan Panel 2018
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences. College of Education and Human Sciences Academic Program Review Panel Member 2018
National Cancer Insitute, NIH Ad hoc Reviewer, NCI Provocative Question 3: How do variations in tumor-associated immune responses contribute to differences in cancer risk, incidence, or progression? 2017-2018
National Cancer Insitute, NIH , Cliinical and Translational R21 and Omnibus R03 Special Emphasis Panel 2017
National Cancer Insitute, NIH Grant Review Panel Member, Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions among Cancer Survivors Special Emphasis Panel 2016-2017
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Office of Scientific Quality Review (OSQR) Panel Reviewer, Immunity/Inflammation, ARS Project Plan Panel 2014
USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Panel Reviewer, Function and Efficacy of Nutrients Panel 2013-2014
National Cancer Insitute, NIH Ad hoc Reviewer, Chemo /Dietary Prevention (CDP) Study Section 2013-2014

Books

Edited Books:

Oh, E.S., Rogers, C.J., Petersen, K.S., Kris-Etherton, P.M. "The Effect of Consuming Spices on Vascular Function". In Food Chemistry, Function and Analysis No. 39. Dietary Supplements with Antioxidant Activity: Understanding Mechanisms and Potential Health Benefits. C. Alasalvar, F. Shahidi and C-T. Ho, editors. 2023. The Royal Society of Chemistry. pp. 106-129.

Oh, E.S., Petersen, K.S., Kris-Etherton, P.M., Rogers, C.J. “The Effect of Culinary Spices on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation to Target Cardiovascular Disease: A Literature Review of Clinical Studies”. In Current Advances for Development of Functional Foods Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. B. Hernandez-Ledesma and C. Martinez-Villaluenga, editors. 2021. Elsevier. pp.545-580.

Rogers, C.J., Hoffman-Goetz, L. “Cancer, Exercise & Immunity”. In Encylcopedia of Lifestyle Medicine. J. Rippe, editor. Sage Publications, 2012, Volume 2, pp. 176-179.

Meng, H., Rogers, C.J. 2012. “Exercise Impact on Immune Regulation of Cancer”. In Exercise, Energy Balance and Cancer. N. Berger, editor. Springer, New York, 2012. pp.37-57.

Rogers, C.J., Colbert, L.H., Perkins, S.D., Hursting, S.D. “Calorie Restriction, Exercise and Colon Cancer Prevention: A Mechanistic Perspective”. In: Physical Activity, Dietary Calorie Restriction and Cancer, Volume 3. A. McTiernan, editor. Springer, New York, 2010. pp. 69-89.

Hursting , S.D., Rogers, C.J., Mahabir, S., Nunez, N.P., Barrett, J.C., Perkins, S.N., Forman, M.R. "Energy Balance and Cancer”. In: Nutritional Oncology, 2nd Edition. D. Heber, G. Blackburn, V. Go, J. Milner, editors. Academic Press, Amsterdam, 2006, pp. 69-83.

Journal Articles

Recent Refereed Journal Articles (since 2019):

Damani JJ, Oh ES, De Souza MJ, Strock NCA, Williams NI, Nakatsu CH, Lee H, Weaver C, Rogers CJ. Prune consumption attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and alters monocyte activation in postmenopausal women: secondary outcome analysis of a 12-month randomized controlled trial: The Prune Study. J Nutr. 2023 Nov 18:S0022-3166(23)72732-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.11.014. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37984741

Van Syoc EP, Damani J, DiMattia Z, Ganda E, Rogers CJ. The Effects of Bifidobacterium Probiotic Supplementation on Blood Glucose: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Animal Models and Clinical Evidence. Adv Nutr. 2023 Nov 2:S2161-8313(23)01398-4. doi: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.10.009. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37923223

Lin D, Thompson CL, Ba DM, Muscat JE, Zhou S, Rogers CJ, Sturgeon KM. Associations Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity Level and Peripheral Immune Cell Populations in the US General Population, Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 1999-2018. Sports Med Open. 2023 Oct 28;9(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00643-y. PMID: 37897560

Damani, J.J., De Souza, M.J., Strock, N.C.A., Koltun, K.J., Williams, N.I., Weaver, C., Rogers, C.J. Associations Between Inflammatory Mediators and Bone Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Baseline Data from the Prune Study. J Inflamm Res. 2023 Feb 15;16:639- 663. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S397837. eCollection 2023. PMID: 36814438

Simpson AMR, De Souza MJ, Damani J, Rogers CJ, Williams NI, Weaver C, Ferruzzi MG, Chadwick-Corbin S, Nakatsu CH. Prune supplementation for 12 months alters the gut microbiome in postmenopausal women. Food Funct. 2022 Nov 28;13(23):12316-12329. doi: 10.1039/d2fo02273g. PMID: 36350082.

Van Syoc E, Weaver E, Rogers CJ, Silverman JD, Ramachandran R, Ganda E. Metformin modulates the gut microbiome in broiler breeder hens. Front Physiol. 2022 Sep 14;13:1000144. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1000144. PMID: 36203937; PMCID: PMC9531308.

De Souza MJ, Strock NCA, Williams NI, Lee H, Koltun KJ, Rogers CJ, Ferruzzi MG, Nakatsu CH, Weaver C. Prunes preserve hip bone mineral density in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: the Prune Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Oct 6;116(4):897-910. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac189. PMID: 35798020.

De Souza MJ, Strock NCA, Rogers CJ, Williams NI, Ferruzzi MG, Nakatsu CH, Simpson AMR, Weaver C. Rationale and study design of Randomized Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation with prune (dried plums) on bone density, geometry, and estimated bone strength in postmenopausal women: The Prune study. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2022 May 28;28:100941. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100941. PMID: 35669487; PMCID: PMC9163423.

Rogers CJ, Petersen K, Kris-Etherton PM. Preventive Nutrition: Heart Disease and Cancer. Med Clin North Am. 2022 Sep;106(5):767-784. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2022.06.001. Epub 2022 Aug 26. PMID: 36154699.

Arnold CRK, Srinivasan S, Rodriguez S, Rydzak N, Herzog CM, Gontu A, Bharti N, Small M, Rogers CJ, Schade MM, Kuchipudi SV, Kapur V, Read AF, Ferrari MJ. A longitudinal study of the impact of university student return to campus on the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among the community members. Sci Rep. 2022 May 21;12(1):8586. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-12499-5. PMID: 35597780; PMCID: PMC9124192.

Damani JJ, De Souza MJ, VanEvery HL, Strock NCA, Rogers CJ. The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women. Adv Nutr. 2022 Oct 2;13(5):1476-1492. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmab162. PMID: 34978320; PMCID: PMC9526830.

Oh ES, Petersen KS, Kris-Etherton PM, Rogers CJ. Four weeks of spice consumption lowers plasma proinflammatory cytokines and alters the function of monocytes in adults at risk of cardiometabolic disease: secondary outcome analysis in a 3-period, randomized, crossover, controlled feeding trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Jan 11;115(1):61-72. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab331. PMID: 34601551; PMCID: PMC8755038.

Zhang X, Wang G, Forman MR, Fu Q, Rogers CJ, Wu S, Gao X. In utero and childhood exposure to the Great Chinese Famine and risk of cancer in adulthood: the Kailuan Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;114(6):2017-2024. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab282. PMID: 34582544.

Petersen KS, Davis KM, Rogers CJ, Proctor DN, West SG, Kris-Etherton PM. Herbs and spices at a relatively high culinary dosage improves 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in adults at risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a randomized, crossover, controlled-feeding study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;114(6):1936-1948. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab291. PMID: 34510174; PMCID: PMC8634565.

Ba Z, Lee Y, Meng H, Kris-Etherton PM, Rogers CJ, Lewis ZT, Mills DA, Furumoto EJ, Rolon ML, Fleming JA, Roberts RF. Matrix Effects on the Delivery Efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 on Fecal Microbiota, Gut Transit Time, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Healthy Young Adults. mSphere. 2021 Aug 25;6(4):e0008421. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00084-21. Epub 2021 Jul 7. PMID: 34232082; PMCID: PMC8386398.

Bruinsma TJ, Dyer AM, Rogers CJ, Schmitz KH, Sturgeon KM. Effects of Diet and Exercise-Induced Weight Loss on Biomarkers of Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Jun;30(6):1048-1062. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1029. Epub 2021 Mar 18. PMID: 33737299; PMCID: PMC8172485

Oh ES, Na M, Rogers CJ. The Association Between Monocyte Subsets and Cardiometabolic Disorders/Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Feb 17;8:640124. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.640124. PMID: 33681309; PMCID: PMC7925827.

Xu Y, Rogers CJ. Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention: Possible Role of Immune Mediators. Front Nutr. 2020 Oct 8;7:557997. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.557997. PMID: 33134306; PMCID: PMC7578403.

Petersen KS, Rogers CJ, West SG, Proctor DN, Kris-Etherton PM. The effect of culinary doses of spices in a high-saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meal on postprandial lipemia and endothelial function: a randomized, controlled, crossover pilot trial. Food Funct. 2020 Apr 1;11(4):3191-3200. doi: 10.1039/c9fo02438g. Epub 2020 Mar 25. PMID: 32211679.

Oh ES, Petersen KS, Kris-Etherton PM, Rogers CJ. Spices in a High-Saturated-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Meal Reduce Postprandial Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Men with Overweight or Obesity: A 3-Period, Crossover, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr. 2020 Jun 1;150(6):1600-1609. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa063. PMID: 32211803; PMCID: PMC7269750.

Xu Y, Rogers CJ. Impact of physical activity and energy restriction on immune regulation of cancer. Transl Cancer Res. 2020 Sep;9(9):5700-5731. doi: 10.21037/tcr.2020.03.38. PMID: 35117934; PMCID: PMC8798226.

Turbitt WJ, Collins SD, Meng H, Rogers CJ. Increased Adiposity Enhances the Accumulation of MDSCs in the Tumor Microenvironment and Adipose Tissue of Pancreatic Tumor-Bearing Mice and in Immune Organs of Tumor-Free Hosts. Nutrients. 2019 Dec 10;11(12):3012. doi: 10.3390/nu11123012. PMID: 31835454; PMCID: PMC6950402.

Sturgeon KM, Mathis KM, Rogers CJ, Schmitz KH, Waning DL. Cancer- and Chemotherapy-Induced Musculoskeletal Degradation. JBMR Plus. 2019 Feb 25;3(3):e10187. doi: 10.1002/jbm4.10187. PMID: 30918923; PMCID: PMC6419610.

Turbitt WJ, Xu Y, Sosnoski DM, Collins SD, Meng H, Mastro AM, Rogers CJ. Physical Activity Plus Energy Restriction Prevents 4T1.2 Mammary Tumor Progression, MDSC Accumulation, and an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019 Aug;12(8):493-506. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-17-0233. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31266827.

Cantorna MT, Rogers CJ, Arora J. Aligning the Paradoxical Role of Vitamin D in Gastrointestinal Immunity. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul;30(7):459-466. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2019.04.005. Epub 2019 May 20. PMID: 31122825; PMCID: PMC6588413.

Working Papers

DiMattia, Z., Damani, J.J., Van Syoc, E., Rogers, C.J. Effect of probiotic supplementation on intestinal permeability in overweight and obesity: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and preclinical studies. (revised, resubmitted, November 2023, Advances in Nutrition)

Koltun, K.J., Strock, N.C.A., Weaver, C., Lee, H., Williams, N.I., Rogers, C.J., Damani, J.J., Ferruzzi, M.G., Nakatsu, C.H, De Souza, M.J. Prunes preserve cortical density and estimated strength of the tibia in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: The Prune Study (revised, resubmitted Nov 2023, Osteoporosis International)

Prune (Dried Plum) Supplementation Has No Adverse Effects on Cardiometabolic Health in Postmenopausal Women: An Ancillary Analysis of a 12-month Randomized Controlled Trial, The Prune Study. Damani, J.J., Rogers, C.J., Lee, H., Strock, N.C.A., Koltun, K.J., Williams, N.I., Weaver, C., Ferruzzi, M.G., Nakatsu, C.H., De Souza, M.J. (submitted November, 2023, The Journal of Nutrition)

Van Syoc, E.M., Nixon, M., Silverman, J.D., Rogers, C.J., Gonzalez, F., Yuhong, L., Elbere, I., Patterson, A.D., Ganda, E. Mining metagenomes reveals gut mycobiome alterations with metformin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (submitted Dec 2023, Diabetes)

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