Colin S. McCoin, PhD

Professional Background

Dr. Colin McCoin is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. After several years of industry research as a molecular biologist in vaccines and diagnostics he pivoted to graduate school. Dr. McCoin received his Ph.D. in 2015 from the University of California, Davis and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center with Dr. John Thyfault, a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology.
Dr. McCoin has received numerous awards and fellowships while at KUMC, including KUMC Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP), K-INBRE, Frontiers CTSA TL1 Postdoctoral Fellowship, and pilot grants from the KUMC Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Children’s Mercy Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, and KUMC Landon Center on Aging.

• BS, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Research

Overview

Dr. McCoin's major research interests are in mitochondrial physiology, with a focus on how physical activity and diet influence mitochondrial health and dynamics across tissues. Additionally, his current research explores the effects of specific drug therapies on metabolism and overall health in aging populations.

• McCoin CS, Von Schulze A, Allen J, Fuller KNZ, Xia Q, Koestler DC, Houchen CJ, Maurer A, Dorn, 2nd GW, Shankar K, Morris EM, Thyfault JP. 2019. Sex modulates hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to high-fat diet and physical activity.. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 317 (2), E298-E311
• Von Schulze A, McCoin CS, Onyekere C, Allen J, Geiger P, Dorn, 2nd GW, Morris EM, Thyfault JP. 2018. Hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to physical activity: impact of sexual dimorphism, PGC1α and BNIP3-mediated mitophagy.. The Journal of physiology, 596 (24), 6157-6171
• Fuller KNZ, McCoin CS, Allen J, Bell-Glenn S, Koestler DC, Dorn GW, Thyfault JP. 2020. Sex and BNIP3 genotype, rather than acute lipid injection, modulate hepatic mitochondrial function and steatosis risk in mice.. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 128 (5), 1251-1261
• Morris EM, Noland RD, Allen JA, McCoin CS, Xia Q, Koestler DC, Shook RP, Lighton JRB, Christianson JA, Thyfault JP. 2020. Difference in Housing Temperature-Induced Energy Expenditure Elicits Sex-Specific Diet-Induced Metabolic Adaptations in Mice.. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 28 (10), 1922-1931