College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Degrees

PhD, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1994
BS, Chesnut Hill College, 1987

Professional Positions

2026 Faculty Coordinator, MSU-NAU Joint Institute, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

2026 At-Large Member, Faculty Senate, Michigan State University

2019 Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

2008 Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

2007 – 2010 Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University

2002 – 2007 Assistant Professor, Department of of Bioscience and Biotechnology Drexel University

1999 –2002 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine

1994 – 1999 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine 

Background/Research

My research focuses on the impact of dietary interventions on the immune response to infection using influenza as a model system. Our studies employ mouse models of aging, calorie restriction, nutraceuticals, and dietary food additives to understand the role of innate immunity, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, in the control and recovery from primary influenza infection. Studies are currently underway to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of viral infection in the lungs by NK cells and other relevant innate immune cells.

Instructional Activities

HNF 150 – Introduction to Human Nutrition
HNF 350 – Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism
HNF 415 – Global Nutrition
HNF 450 – Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease
HNF 825 – Advanced Nutritional Immunology

Selected Publications

Google Scholar indicates that Dr. Gardner’s publications have received a total of 3,531 citations, resulting in an h-index of 32 and an i10-index of 42, indicating that 42 publications have received at least 10 citations. For a full list of publications, please visit Elizabeth M. Gardner Publications.

Dr. Gardner’s trainees are identified as follows: students are underlined, and postdoctoral fellows are double-underlined. The PI of the laboratory in which the data were generated is generally listed as the last author (corresponding author) and is identified by #. For publications resulting from the Gardner–Rockwell collaboration, Dr. Rockwell is listed as corresponding author, while Dr. Gardner is listed as the next-to-last author identified by @. Peer-reviewed publications are indicated by *.

*Fu, Q., Cappiello, M., Gardner, E. M.# (2026). Analysis of food insecurity in U.S. colleges using current assessment tools – A systematic review. Nutrients.18: 1866. http://doi.org/10.3390/nu18121866.

*Fu, Q., Gardner, E.M.@, Rockwell, C.E.# (2026). The plant compound sulforaphane attenuates induction of cytokines and other early activation events in Jurkat cells. J Diet Suppl.1–14. Epub ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2026.2669189.

*Fu, Q., DeJager, J., Gardner, E.M.# (2024). Supplementation and mitigating cognitive decline in older adults with or without mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review. Nutrients. 16:3567. doi: 10.3390/nu16203567.

*Freeborn, R.A., Boss, A. P., Kaiser, L.M., Gardner, E.M.@, Rockwell, C.E.# (2022). Trivalent arsenic impairs the effector response of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to influenza A ex vivo. Food Chem Toxicol. 165:113-122. PMID: 35580760.

*Gardner E.M.#, Murasko, D.M. (2019). Age-related changes in Type 1 and Type 2 cytokine production in humans. Handbook of Immunosenescence: Basic Understanding and Clinical Implications. 1301-34.

*Boss, A.P., Freeborn, R.A., Duriancik, D.M., Kennedy, R.C., Gardner, E.M.@, Rockwell, C.E.# (2018). The Nrf2 activator tBHQ inhibits the activation of primary murine natural killer cells. Food Chem Toxicol.121:231-236. PMID:30171972.

Faculty Awards

2013 Carl G. Smith Award for Faculty Excellence, endowed by Gerber Product Company, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

2011 Ruth L. Pike Lecture Series: Frontiers in Nutrition Research Award, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

2007 Antelo Devereux Research Award for Young Faculty at Drexel University

2000 Mary DeWitt Pettit Fellowship of the Alumni/ae Association of Medical College of Pennsylvania

Related Activity

2026 Interview with Theo Scheer, The State News. MSU committees are an effective way to get your voice heard, members say. So why aren’t students joining? https://statenews.com/article/2026/03/msu-committees-are-an-effective-way-to-get-your-voice- heard-members-say-so-why-aren-t-students-joining

2016 Interview with Nicole Heslip, Brownfield Ag News for America, Media. CAN EATING MORE CALORIES HELP FIGHT INFLUENZA? http://brownfieldagnews.com/2016/03/04/can-eating-more-calories-help-fight-influenza

2015 Loosening the Belt: Fighting Influenza with Higher Calorie Diets. MSU Ag Bio Research, 2015 Annual Report, pages 44-46

2014 Interview for U.S. aging researchers prepare for loss of hungry mouse colony, Science New from the Journal Science, June 24, 2014. https://www.science.org/content/article/us-aging-researchers-prepare-loss-hungry-mouse-colony

2010 Eat and Be Merry, Marie Claire Magazine, pg 218, Nov 2010 issue
Interview, Self Magazine (Nov 2010 issue)

MAES Annual Report, Faculty Spotlight for Aging NIH Grant

2009 Faculty Spotlight for FSHN Newsletter Feed a cold, feed a fever 2009 Interview and quoted for Press Release Doctors urge precaution to shield against Swine Flu

2008 Press Release on Media Outlets Feed a cold, feed a fever
• www.worldhealth.net/news/dieting_during_the_flu_season_a_no-no/
• www.nature.com/uidfinder/10.1038/nrmicro2062
• www.thefreelibrary.com/Keep+off+dieting+to+avoid+flu-a0195073962
• www.statesman.com/.../research_reconsiders_adage_sta.html
• hu-hu.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=48347659866 - Hungary
• ed-bites.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-year-new-you-new-flu.html
• www.healthnewsblog.com/diet/
• http://blog.mlive.com/right_fit/2008/12/a_saying_about_sickness.html
• www.prohealth.com/weightloss/library/showarticle.cfm?libid...
•www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/msu-fac112508.php - seniorjournal.com/.../FLU2008/20081125-FeedACold.htm –
• www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Why-New-Year-diets-come-health-warning.html