Nutrition experts Sun, Guo honored for groundbreaking research
Two College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty earn prestigious Chancellor EDGES Fellow title
Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty Yuxiang Sun, Ph.D., and Shaodong Guo, Ph.D., both professors in the Department of Nutrition, were honored as 2025 Chancellor Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship, EDGES, Fellows on May 6.
Launched in 2019 by The Texas A&M University System, the prestigious EDGES Fellowships recognize rising mid-career faculty at the associate or early full professor level, achieving national and international acclaim.
Sun and Guo are among 17 standout faculty members across the System earning this year’s award. Each fellowship holder earns the right to use the title of Chancellor EDGES Fellow.
“Drs. Guo and Sun are making life-saving contributions in nutrition and health,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “It’s gratifying to see their work recognized at such a high level, and it’s an honor for Texas A&M AgriLife to serve as the academic home to these outstanding faculty members.”
David Threadgill, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Nutrition, said Sun’s and Guo’s work reflects the department’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for human-centered health education and research.
“Dr. Sun and Dr. Guo have devoted themselves to advancing our discipline and improving global health,” Threadgill said. “They both deserve this honor as they are at the forefront of their fields and are elevating human health.”
Yuxiang Sun
Sun, an AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow and associate department head for graduate programs, has groundbreaking discoveries related to “the hunger hormone” known as ghrelin. The research has propelled her into international recognition as a leader in the field.
Working in new biological research frontiers and interdisciplinary fields of immunometabolism, inflammaging and neuroinflammation, Sun’s research investigates how ghrelin signaling affects obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, aging and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Her research suggests potential for novel therapies addressing obesity, diabetes, inflammation and neurogenerative diseases.
Shaodong Guo
Guo, a professor and Presidential Impact Fellow, concentrates his research on the molecular mechanisms of insulin signal transduction, insulin resistance and associated cardiovascular dysfunction.
His long-term research goal is to find nutritional and therapeutic interventions for the control of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
He is also studying the mechanism by which estrogen can decrease insulin resistance and glucose production, thereby reducing the incidences of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
