Hello! I’m Christina, an MSc student in the Tierney lab, where my research focuses on the impact of diet on health, using zebrafish as a model vertebrate. Optimal nutrition, characterized by a balanced intake of macro- and micronutrients, is essential for maintaining physiological well-being, promoting long-term health, and reducing disease susceptibility.
In my first data chapter, I investigate how alternative proteins influence various health parameters from birth to adulthood, including survival, growth, muscle development, metabolic gene expression, and gut microbiota composition. My second data chapter evaluates the efficacy of dietary supplements—specifically creatine monohydrate and hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB)—in enhancing exercise performance and mitigating age-related muscle loss. By leveraging the zebrafish model, this research explores the intersection of dietary supplementation, exercise performance, and aging.
With the global trend toward an aging population, prioritizing public health strategies for healthy aging is increasingly important, necessitating expanded research efforts in this field. This work aligns with my lifelong passion for physiology, nutrition, and One Health-related issues. Outside the lab, I enjoy creating artwork, skateboarding, long-distance running, hiking, photography, and hangin’ out with my friends.