University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · BiologyGaulke Lab
Christopher A Gaulke · Champaign, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Christopher A. Gaulke's lab investigates how exposure to common herbicides during development may affect our gut microbiome and, consequently, our health, particularly in relation to obesity. The lab aims to understand the biological pathways through which these chemicals disrupt microbial communities in our intestines and contribute to weight gain. The research combines various experimental techniques to link changes in the microbiome with physiological outcomes related to obesity.
gut microbiomeherbicide exposureobesitymicrobial pathwaysadipogenesis
Research Aims
5AIM 01Analyze the effects of herbicide exposure on gut microbiome composition and function.
AIM 02Assess the role of altered microbiomes in promoting obesity through adipogenesis.
AIM 03Identify specific microbial genes and metabolites linked to changes in host physiology post-exposure.
AIM 04Characterize how herbicides mediate acute toxicological effects via the microbiome.
AIM 05Develop therapeutic strategies targeting microbial pathways to counter obesity.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturegerm-free animal studiesmicrobiome analysismetagenomicsfecal transplantationmolecular biology techniquesin vitro assaysdata analysisexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications69bottom 19% of dept.839th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.6kbottom 10% of dept.928th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.