Yves Boisclair

My professional activities are centered around an understanding of the role of hormones in regulating mammalian metabolism. My research activities involve many animal models (mouse, sheep and cattle), based on the fact that each offers unique opportunities and unique metabolic challenges. My research has implications for both animal agriculture and human health.

Research Focus

The overall goal of my research program is to understand the regulation of metabolism, growth and development by hormones. We pursue this goal at molecular, cellular and organismal levels in the context of problems relevant to animal agriculture and medicine. 

• Role of the growth hormone-IGF system in regulating growth, productive function and metabolism.
• Roles of the adipokines and hepatokines (leptin, adiponectin and fibroblast growth factor-21) in coordinating adaptive metabolism during the demanding physiological states such as pregnancy and lactation. 

Teaching Focus

I teach Biology of the Mammary Gland in Health and Disease ( ANSC/BIOAP 3410). This is a capstone course in physiology directed to students interested in both basic and translational aspects of lactation. I also teach Mechanisms of Growth and Development (ANSC3920). This is a course directed to students primarily interested in recent advances in growth biology with a focus on major metabolic tissues and their regulation by hormones.

Invited National and International Presentations

• Invited speaker, “Endocrine adaptation to lactation: IGF, FGF21 and beyond.”  International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology, Chicago, IL, August 24, 2024.    
• Invited speaker, Hill Seminar, “Ruminants as models to study the endocrine regulation of adaptive metabolism during periods of nutritional insufficiency—focus on fibroblast growth factor-21.”  PennState University, April 2023.
• Invited speaker, “Novel hormones regulating metabolism during the transition from pregnancy to lactation in dairy cows.” National Academic Forum of Ph.D. Students on Animal Husbandry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China, November 2013.
• Invited speaker: “Regulation of FGF-21 and its mediator adiponectin in transition dairy cow.” Symposium on the next generation of metabolic endocrinology, ADSA-ASAS meeting, Indianapolis, IN, July 2013.
• Invited speaker, “Role of Leptin and Recently Discovered Hormones Regulating Adaptive Metabolism in Early Lactating Dairy Cows.” Texas A&M University, 2011.     
• Invited speaker, “Update on Endocrine Mechanisms Regulating Nutrient Partitioning in Growing Animals.” 3rd EAAP International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition, Parma, Italy, 2010.
• Invited speaker, “Chronic Effects of Peripheral Leptin and Central Melanocortins on Feed Intake and Metabolism in Ruminants.” Symposium on Appetite and Metabolic Function, West Virginia University, 2006.
• Invited speaker, “Role of Leptin in Sheep and Dairy Cows.” Laval University, Quebec, Canada, 2006.
• Invited speaker, “Role of Growth Hormone in Periparturient Dairy Cows.” McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 2006.
• Invited Speaker, “Biology of Leptin in Ruminants.” Dairy and Swine Research Centre, Lennoxville, Canada, 2006.
• Invited speaker, “Roles of Growth Hormone and Leptin in the Periparturient Dairy Cow.” 10th International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004.