Matt Ulgherait, Ph.D

About

Dr. Ulgherait’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of aging. More specifically, how metabolism and nutrition can be altered and exploited to extend an organism’s lifespan. To accomplish this, he utilizes Drosophila as a model system. The fruit fly allows us to understand the connection between environmental conditions, diet composition, feeding timing, and the genetics of nutrient signaling. Pathway identification, and nutrient signaling regulators can be easily screened for with the many available genetic tools available in the fly.

Most recently, Dr. Ulgherait has studied the mechanism by which time-restricted feeding prevents aging and extends lifespan. He has found that autophagy is a tightly circadian controlled process by which macromolecules and organelles are recycled on a strict schedule (Ulgherait et al., 2021). These processes are dependent on the circadian clock, as are the benefits of restricted eating/intermittent fasting. Diurnal animals must fast during the night phase of the circadian cycle to reach the full benefit of this nutritional intervention. These findings are highlighted in (Helfand and De Cabo, 2021).

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award
2022, CUMC

EUREKA award for Innovation
2012, UCLA

Life Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award
2010, UCLA

Life Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award
2009, UCLA

Teaching Interests

Genetics of metabolism and nutrition.

Aging and lifespan regulation by metabolic signaling.

Nutritional biochemistry.

Research Activities

Dr. Ulgherait's research interests include: Aging, Longevity, Nutrition, Metabolism, Mitochondria, Lipids, Autophagy, Obesity, Intestinal Homeostasis, Insulin Signaling, and the Microbiome.

Service Activities

Undergraduate research training and teaching effective fellowship writing.

Key Publications

Circadian autophagy drives longevity response to Intermittent Time-Restricted-Feeding (iTRF). Ulgherait M, Midoun A, Park SJ, Klickstein N, Gato J, Ja WW, Canman JC, Shirasu-Hiza M. (2021). Nature.

Circadian-regulated mitochondrial uncoupling controls longevity. Ulgherait M, Chen A, McAllister S, Delventhal R, Wayne CR, Garcia CJ, Recinos R, C. Canman JC, Picard M, Owusu-Ansah M, Shirasu-Hiza M. (2020). Nature Communications.

Dietary Restriction Extends the Lifespan of Circadian Mutants tim and per. Ulgherait M, Chen A, Oliva MK, Kim HX, Canman JC, Ja WW, Shirasu-Hiza M. (2016). Cell Metabolism, 24(6), 763-764.

AMPK modulates tissue and organismal aging in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Ulgherait M, Rana A, Rera M, Graniel J, Walker DW. (2014). Cell Reports, 8(6), 1767-1780.

Education