Benjamin Renquist

Renquist lab research aims to understand how organs communicate with each other and with the central nervous system to maintain metabolic and physiological homeostasis. Our lab's primary focus is understanding how GABA produced by a fatty liver changes insulin release from the pancreas, insulin sensitivity, blood flow to skeletal muscle, and phagic drive.

We have adjacent projects focused on:

1) drug development to prevent the liver from producing GABA

2) understanding the causative role of fatty liver/GABA in accelerated aging, hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

3) understanding peripheral nervous system regulation of blood flow and the mechanisms by which blood pressure and metabolic homeostasis are maintained as cardiac output changes.

Through this research the lab has spun out 3 companies.

GenetiRate, acquired by IMV Technologies in 2021, was based on an assay we developed to measure the metabolic rate of zebrafish. The test was developed for drug development, but when applied to tilapia, salmon, and trout it could be applied to improve selection for growth. GenetiRate developed automation that allowed the test to be applied at a scale needed to be applied in the aquaculture industry.

Effani, founded in June 2022, is focused on improving feed efficiency in production animal industries. We are bringing to market a high throughput test of energy expenditure (muscle biopsy) and the automation necessary to ensure that the test is run properly on the farm with minimal training. Through trials with academic and industry partners Effani has shown that selection for a lower energy expenditure improves average daily gain of growing beef cattle, milk production by dairy cattle, and feed:gain ratio in cattle and fish.

LivEndocrine, founded in 2024, is focused on developing novel therapeutics to treat diabetes and hypertension. LivEndocrine is in the very early stages.