Frank W. Edens
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
B.S. (1969) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
M.S. (1971) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
Ph.D. (1974) University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
COURSES TAUGHT
PO404 Avian Physiology
PO524/PHY524 Comparative Endocrinology
PO601/PO801 Poultry Graduate Seminar
IMPACT and CONTRIBUTION
I taught undergraduate Avian Physiology for 28 years and recently developed a graduate course in Comparative Endocrinology using domestic fowl as the focal species. Additionally, I coordinate the departmental graduate seminar series. Additional academic responsibilities are to direct graduate students, serve on graduate advisory committees, serve as a Graduate School representative on Ph. D. examination committees, and to advise undergraduate students
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests incorporate investigations in environmental physiology for poultry with emphasis on stress and immunity and their relationship to enteric and respiratory diseases. Research approaches to the study of stress have incorporated endocrinology, neurophysiology, immunology, pathology, and molecular biology associated with antioxidant influence on gene expression governing heat shock proteins, selenoproteins, and antioxidant enzymes. Over the past 18 years, a large effort has been made in the study different selenium sources and dietary levels in poultry species and have studied feather development, performance and meat quality, characterization of selenium influence on expression of several selenoproteins and immune processes in broiler chickens challenged with either reovirus, heat distress, or nutritional deficiencies. Currently, research is being conducted to determine the influence of various feed grade antioxidants and how these transfer protection to the integrity of cellular DNA
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Mahmoud, K. Z., and F. W. Edens, 2012. Effect of breeder age on small intestinal development of broiler chicks with immediate or delayed access to feed. British Poultry Science, 53:32-41.
Dinev, I., S. A. Denev, and F. W. Edens, 2012. Comparative clinical and morphological studies on the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia as a cause of lameness in three commercial lines of broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research (in press).
Edens, F. W., 2011. Gender, age, and reproductive status effects on serum prolactin concentrations in different varieties and species of poultry. International Journal of Poultry Science, 10:832-838.
Edens, F. W., and A. E. Sefton, 2010. Design defines response of selenium. World Poultry, 26(3):29-32.
Edens, F. W., and J. L. Pierce, 2010, Nutrigenomics: Implications for Prebiotics and Intestinal Health. Proceedings of the 2010 Arkansas Nutrition Conference, Rogers, AR. September 7-9, 2010. pp 45-66.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILITATIONS
Poultry Science Association
American Physiological Society
American Association of Avian Pathologists
Southern Poultry Science Society
World's Poultry Science Association
HONORS AND AWARDS
Alltech Medal of Excellence, Alltech, Inc., Lexington, KY, May 2002
National Turkey Federation Research Award, Montreal, Canada, August 2000
Ilya Metchnikoff Award in Probiotics, BioGaia Biologics, Inc. Stockholm, Sweden, July 1997
PATENTS
A Method of Inducing Birds to Molt Using a LHRH Receptor Ligand, Aug. 2, 1988
A Method for Delivery of Lactobacillus reuteri into the Incubating Avian Embryo, Sept. 27, 1995
A Method to Deliver Direct Fed Microbials In Ovo, October, 1992.
