Sandra Clarke, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Human Health and Nutrition

Current research and/or projects

Dr. Clarke’s research has been focused on investigating the impacts of dietary supplements and food components on gut health and microbiota. Dr. Clarke’s work is linked to the AAFC strategic area of improving attributes for food and non-food uses; and continues to explore food ingredients for potential to decrease inflammation, maintain a balanced intestinal microbial community structure and support overall health.

Research and/or project statements

Establishing a research program to characterize the effects of food ingredients on gut health using mammalian models
Investigating feasibility of incorporating waste products from cereal and horticultural processing into functional food products, quantifying and characterizing bioactives and subsequent impacts on gut health

Professional activities / interests

Investigations of dietary interventions and supplements (dietary fibre, fats) on gut health, immunity and microbiome community structure
Characterizing diet related alterations to intestinal inflammation and gut health
Value-added ingredients to maintain or promote gut health

Education and awards

Doctor of Philosophy, Applied Bioscience – Immunology, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2016

Publications

Bescucci D, Clarke ST, Brown CLJ, Boras VF, Montina T, Uwiera RRE & Inglis GD. 2020. The murine cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide impacts host responses enhancing Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Gut Pathogens 12:53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-020-00386-1

Sarfaraz S, Singh S, Hawke A, Clarke ST & Ramdath DD. 2020. Effects of high-fat diet induced obesity and fructooligosaccharide supplementation on cardiac protein expression. Nutrients 12(11):3404. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113404

Gourgouvelis J, Yielder P, Clarke ST, Behbahani H & Murphy BA. 2018. Exercise leads to better clinical outcomes in those receiving medication plus cognitive behavioural therapy for major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry 9:37. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00037

Gourgouvelis J, Yielder P, Clarke ST, Behbahani H & Murphy BA. 2018. You can’t fix what isn’t broken: eight weeks of exercise do not substantially change cognitive function and biochemical markers in young and healthy adults. PeerJ 6: e4675. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4675

Clarke ST, Brooks SPJ, Inglis GD, Yanke LJ, Green J, Pertonella N, Ramdath DD, Bercik P, Green-Johnson JM & Kalmokoff. 2017. Impact of β2-1 fructan on the faecal community change: results from a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study in healthy adults. British Journal of Nutrition 118(6): 441-453. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114517002318

Clarke ST, Green-Johnson JM, Brooks SPJ, Ramdath DD, Bercik P, Avila C, Inglis GD, Green J, Yanke LJ, Selinger LB & Kalmokoff ML. 2016. β2-1 Fructan supplementation alters host immune responses in a manner consistent with increased exposure to microbial components: results from a double-blinded, randomised, cross-over study in healthy adults. British Journal of Nutrition 115(10): 1748-1759. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114516000908

McCarville JL, Clarke ST, Shastri P, Liu Y, Kalmokoff ML, Brooks SPJ & Green-Johnson JM. 2013. Spaceflight Influences both Mucosal and Peripheral Cytokine Production in PTN-Tg and Wild Type Mice. PLoS One 8(7): e68961. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0068961