Baack Lab

08/06/2025

What an amazing US DOHaD society conference in Portland this year!!! Thank you to the OHSU staff and leadership team. Congratulations to Kyle Siemers who was not only a nationally elected leader helping organize the 2025 meeting, but also an award winner with a perfect poster score. Way to go Kyle!!!! The Baack lab is so proud of you!!!

06/22/2025

An appreciation post for our lab’s leader, Dr. Michelle Baack! We are so proud to share that Dr. Baack has recently been recognized for 2 different awards 🎉 🏆

First, she was given the Distinguished Researcher award at this year’s USD Pediatric Research & Scholarship Day. She was nominated by the Pediatric Residents who presented her with this award, which highlights her outstanding role as a mentor for research in the pediatric department.

In addition, she was recently celebrated for her appointment of the Karl H. Wegner, MD, Chair in Medicine. This endowment was established by the late Dr. Karl H. Wegner with his wife, Margaret Cash Wegner.

Both of these accomplishments highlight Dr. Baack’s vision, mentorship and dedication to the pediatric department and her research. She is an inspiration for early career medical students, residents and scientists!

Congratulations, Dr. Baack! 🥳

06/04/2025

Exciting updates from the Baack lab 🎉

We’re proud to highlight a few of our pediatric residents who recently presented their work at a local (USD-SSOM Pediatric Research & Scholarship Day) and national conference (Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Honolulu, HI)! 🌟

We are so proud of Dr. Kruttiventi, Dr. Kalla, and Dr. Reddy! Between the 2 conferences, they had 5 invited poster presentations and 1 invited oral talk. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication and for representing the Baack lab well!!👏

01/07/2025

This week the Baack Lab has to say Goodbye to one of the best… Ty, our cell and imaging guy. While we wish Ty the BEST of EVERYTHING in his new adventure, we are also trying to help fill the empty space he will leave in our amazing team. Please share the Sanford Research job link with any entry level research associates who might be interested in our basic and translational science that aims to prevent multigenerational causes of child and adult obesity and metabolic syndrome even before birth! https://sanford.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SanfordHealth/job/SD-Sioux-Falls/Research-Specialist_R-0209583

01/05/2025

The Baack Lab holiday party was a blast!! We started the day off with breakfast before being sentenced to “60 to life” and escaped with 6 minutes to spare!

Next, we got a lesson in candle making from Tricia where we got to make our own scents and pour our own candles!

We ended our holiday fun with a trip to the movies to watch Wicked!

We hope everyone’s holiday season was just as fun as ours!

12/19/2024

Huge Congratulations to Kyle Siemers who successfully defended their PhD on Dec. 6! 🎓🎉🍾

She gave an amazing talk entitled “Diabetic Fuels Influence Mitochondria Function and Fatty Acid Processing in Human Trophoblasts” in front her family, friends, and colleagues and it was smiles all around.

Kyle will be continuing on to complete her MD education here in Sioux Falls so she’ll still be making some Baack Lab appearances every now and again!

The Baack Lab is so proud of all Kyle’s accomplishments in the past 3 years and can’t wait to see what all is in store for her!! Congratulations, Kyle!!

10/29/2024

🌟 It’s been an exciting season for learners in the Baack Lab! 🌟

Our lab is buzzing with achievements and hard work. Recently, two of our graduate students attended the US Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Society Annual Meeting in Chapel Hill, NC!

A huge congratulations to Kyle Siemers, who not only served on the Society's leadership council but also won the Award for Best Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student! 🎖️ Also, kudos to Abigail Klein, selected to present in the Trainee Poster Teaser session, where she delivered an impressive synopsis of her poster! 👏

Our work with pediatric residents is also in full swing! Drs. Sowmya Kruttiveni, Sruti Kalla, and Krishna Reddy are actively working on innovative projects in the lab, with Dr. Pradeeksha Mukuntharaj recently presenting at Grand Rounds for the Pediatrics department on her project. We couldn’t be prouder of their contributions and dedication to advancing research!

Here's to our incredible team of learners and the impactful work they’re bringing to the field! 🌍🔬

10/27/2024

📢 Publication Alert! 📢

Congratulations to our MD/PhD student, Kyle Siemers, and Dr. Michelle Baack on their latest publication, "Gestational Diabetes-like Fuels Impair Mitochondrial Function and Long-Chain Fatty Acid Uptake in Human Trophoblasts," where they dive into the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on placental health and fetal nutrient transfer. 👩‍🔬✨

The study reveals that under GDM-like conditions, key mitochondrial functions and the uptake of essential long-chain fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in human trophoblasts are impaired—shedding light on why infants exposed to GDM may face increased risks of LCPUFA deficiency and lipid accumulation.

We are so proud of Kyle's hard work and dedication to advancing our understanding of maternal-fetal health. Well done, Kyle! 👏

🔗 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/21/11534

In the parent, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes both hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Despite excess lipid availability, infants exposed to GDM are at risk for essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) deficiency. Isotope studies have confirmed less LCPUFA transfer from the...

03/24/2024

Kyle, Abby, and Michelle just returned from the Society of Reproductive Investigation Annual Meeting in Vancouver BC, where Abby was invited for a talk and Kyle for a poster presentation! Kyle was selected as one of 20 recipients of Best New Investigator Poster Presentation 🥳
They had an amazing time learning from other world-renowned scientists, networking with trainees and leaders in the field, and enjoying the sights and sounds of Vancouver (including the 8th annual Featles Concert!) 🔬👩🏼‍🔬💚

12/25/2023

Happy Holidays from the Baack Lab! 🎄🎁 We wish everyone a safe and warm holiday surrounded by friends and family ♥️

11/01/2023

Introducing the ROSbusters 👻
The Baack Lab scored a consecutive win at the Sanford Research costume contest!! Let’s go fight some ROS!

08/25/2023

🎉 Big cheers to Kyle, Abby, and Michelle! 📚🔬 Their review article, "Mitochondrial Dysfunction in PCOS: Insights into Reproductive Organ Pathophysiology," is a scientific triumph. 🌟🧬 Illuminating the intersection of mitochondrial function and PCOS opens new doors for reproductive health understanding. 🌸 Kudos for your dedication and collaborative spirit. 📖🔍 Your work inspires us to push science's limits. Congrats on this exceptional feat! 🎊👏