Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities

Research Associate in the Glucokinase Lab.

Qualifications

Ph.D. Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

M.Phil. Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

M.S. Biology, New York University

B.A. Organismal Biology and Ecology, Bard College

Previous Positions

2015 - 2017: Postdoctoral researcher, The Mechano Micro Biology Lab

2012 - 2015: Doctoral candidate, The Dennehy Lab

2009 - 2012: Graduate Research Assistant, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

2005 - 2009: Senior Research Technician II, The Population Council

2004 - 2005: Research Assistant, The Rockefeller University

Google scholar profile.

• Articles

  • Buziau AM, Oosterveer MH, Wouters K, Bos T, Tolan DR, Agius L, Ford BE, Cassiman D, Stehouwer CDA, Schalkwijk CG, Brouwers MCGJ. Hepatic glucokinase regulatory protein and carbohydrate response element binding protein attenuation reduce de novo lipogenesis but do not mitigate intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation in Aldob deficiency. Molecular Metabolism 2024, 87, 101984.
  • Ford BE, Chachra SS, Alshawi A, Oakley F, Fairclough RJ, Smith DM, Tiniakos D, Agius L. Compromised chronic efficacy of a glucokinase activator AZD1656 in mouse models for common human GCKR variants. Biochemical Pharmacology 2024, 229, 116499.
  • Ford BE, Chachra SS, Rodgers K, Moonira T, Al-Oanzi ZH, Anstee QM, Reeves HL, Schattenberg JM, Fairclough RJ, Smith DM, Tiniakos D, Agius L. The GCKR-P446L gene variant predisposes to raised blood cholesterol and lower blood glucose in the P446L mouse-a model for GCKR rs1260326. Molecular Metabolism 2023, 72, 101722.
  • Moonira T, Chachra SS, Ford BE, Marin S, Alshawi A, Adam-Primus NS, Arden C, Al-Oanzi ZH, Foretz M, Viollet B, Cascante M, Agius L. Metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes by activation of glycolysis downstream of glucose phosphorylation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2020, 295(10), 3330-3346.
  • Ford BE, Chachra SS, Alshawi A, Brennan A, Harnor S, Cano C, Baker DJ, Smith DM, Fairclough RJ, Agius L. Chronic glucokinase activator treatment activates liver Carbohydrate response element binding protein and improves hepatocyte ATP homeostasis during substrate challenge. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 2020, 22(11), 1985-1994.
  • Ford BE, Sun B, Carpino J, Chapler ES, Ching J, Choi Y, Jhun K, Kim JD, Lallos GG, Morgenstern R, Singh S, Theja S, Dennehy JJ. Frequency and Fitness Consequences of Bacteriophage Phi 6 Host Range Mutations. PLoS ONE 2014, 9(11), e113078.
  • Kizima L, Rodriguez A, Kenney J, Derby N, Mizenina O, Menon R, Seidor S, Zhang SM, Levendosky K, Jean-Pierre N, Pugach P, Villegas G, Ford BE, Gettie A, Blanchard J, Piatak M, Lifson JD, Paglini G, Teleshova N, Zydowsky TM, Robbiani M, Fernandez-Romero JA. A Potent Combination Microbicide that Targets SHIV-RT, HSV-2 and HPV. PLOS ONE 2014, 9(4), e94547.
  • Rodriguez A, Kleinbeck K, Mizenina O, Kizima L, Levendosky K, Jean-Pierre N, Villegas G, Ford BE, Cooney ML, Teleshova N, Robbiani M, Herold BC, Zydowsky T, Romero JAF. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of two carrageenan-based formulations to prevent HPV acquisition. Antiviral Research 2014, 108, 88-93.
  • Fernandez-Romero JA, Abraham CJ, Rodriguez A, Kizima L, Jean-Pierre N, Menon R, Begay O, Seidor S, Ford BE, Gil PI, Peters J, Katz D, Robbiani M, Zydowsky TM. Zinc Acetate/Carrageenan Gels Exhibit Potent Activity In Vivo against High-Dose Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Vaginal and Rectal Challenge. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY 2012, 56(1), 358-368.
  • Begay O, Jean-Pierre N, Abraham CJ, Chudolij A, Seidor S, Rodriguez A, Ford BE, Henderson M, Katz D, Zydowsky T, Robbiani M, Fernandez-Romero JA. Identification of Personal Lubricants That Can Cause Rectal Epithelial Cell Damage and Enhance HIV Type 1 Replication in Vitro. AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES 2011, 27(9), 1019-1024.

• Book Chapter

  • Ford BE, Baloh M, Dennehy JJ. Evolutionary Ecology of the Viruses of Microorganisms. In: Hyman, P; Abedon, ST, ed. Viruses of Microorganisms. Poole, UK: Caister Academic Press, 2018, pp.53-76.

• Reviews

  • Agius L, Chachra SS, Ford BE. The Protective Role of the Carbohydrate Response Element Binding Protein in the Liver: The Metabolite Perspective. Frontiers in Endocrinology 2020, 11, 594041.
  • Agius L, Ford BE, Chachra SS. The metformin mechanism on gluconeogenesis and AMPK activation: The metabolite perspective. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020, 21(9), 3240.