With Dr. Anna Thalacker-Mercerassociate professor and vice chair for academic and mentoring programs in the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology and UAHSF Professor of Regenerative and Translational Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A member of ASN for more than 20 years, Dr. Thalacker-Mercer is recognized Nutrition 2026 as both recipients ASN-Novo Nordisk Foundation Henrik Dam Prize for Scientific Discovery in Food and a Excellence in nutrition.
In conversation with ASN Membership Engagement Coordinator Sarah Genal, Dr. Thalaker-Mercer discusses the science behind the Henrik Dam Award Lecture, Extending the legacy of the dam: micronutrients and metabolism as architects of skeletal muscle physiologywhose laboratory discoveries and collaborative research demonstrate how nutrient availability regulates skeletal muscle biology. He will share emerging findings on amino acids, vitamin B12, mitochondrial biology and proteostasis, and reflect on how this award will help advance high-risk, high-reward research with clinical relevance.
In an interview, she shares the discoveries that shape her research, the value of mentorship and service, and why mid-career represents a unique opportunity to influence the future of food science.
Sarah Genall: Thank you, Dr. Talaker-Mercer, for joining me in this spotlight interview! To begin, could you please introduce yourself and share what sparked your interest in nutrition with a focus on micronutrients, metabolism, and geriatric nutrition?
Dr. Anna Thalaker-Mercer: I am Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Academic and Mentoring Programs in the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology and UAHSF Professor in Regenerative and Translational Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where I also serve as the Director of the ShoNIH Center for ANIH Research Development. and Associate Director of the Center for Exercise Medicine.
My scientific journey is focused on understanding how nutrients and metabolism regulate skeletal muscle physiology across the lifespan, particularly in aging and disease. My early studies during my PhD at Purdue University and postdoctoral work at UAB sparked my interest in how nutrient availability shapes muscle biology.
Over time, this evolved into a research program aimed at identifying the nutritional and metabolic needs that support skeletal muscle recovery and physiology in adults and individuals with chronic conditions. My lab has been particularly interested in a selection of non-essential dietary amino acids (serine, glycine, glutamine) and vitamin B12 and how they affect mitochondrial biology, muscle stem cell function, and overall metabolic health.
This work is at the intersection of micronutrients, metabolism, and geriatric nutrition, with the ultimate goal of improving longevity by maintaining skeletal muscle health in vulnerable populations.
Genell: Congratulations on receiving the Henrik Damm Prize for Scientific Discovery in the Field of Food! What does this recognition mean to you at this point in your career?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: Thanks! That recognition is really important, especially at this point in my career. This award reflects the collective efforts of my interns, colleagues, and mentors at many institutions, including Purdue, Cornell, and UAB. It also comes at a time when my program is expanding scientifically and translationally, moving from fundamental discoveries in cellular and preclinical models to applications that can impact human health. Being recognized this year as a Nutritionist of Excellence by the American Society for Nutrition is especially important.
Overall, the award reinforces the importance of continuing to advance innovative and mechanistic work in nutritional science, particularly in areas such as micronutrients and metabolism that are important but still understudied, especially in the biology of aging and genetics.
Genell: You are being recognized for some great achievements this year, with the Henrik Dam Award and recognition as Food Excellence at ASN! As a recipient of the Henrik Dam Award, you will lecture at NUTRITION 2026. Can you tell us a little about what you have planned for this award lecture?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: My conversation, “Extending the legacy of the dam: micronutrients and metabolism as architects of skeletal muscle physiology“, will highlight discoveries from my lab and collaborative work that determine how nutrient availability regulates skeletal muscle biology. I will particularly focus on my work demonstrating the importance of amino acids such as serine, glycine, and glutamine (all non-essential amino acids) for muscle repair. Mitochondrial biology and proteostasis.
In keeping with the legacy of Henrik Damm, my goal is to show how fundamental discoveries in micronutrients and metabolism can change our understanding of physiology, in this case, skeletal muscle health in aging and disease.
Genell: This award includes more than $230,000 in support. How do you plan to use this money to advance your research?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: I will use this award to expand cell and pre-clinical studies and accelerate the translation of our findings. The ultimate goal of my research program is to translate our findings into nutritional strategies to maintain/improve muscle health in adults and those with chronic conditions. Importantly, the flexibility of this funding allows us to pursue high-risk, high-reward questions that complement our ongoing research and move discoveries more quickly into clinical relevance.
Genell: You mentioned that this is a very understudied topic. What are the biggest unanswered questions in skeletal muscle physiology and healthy aging today?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: From a nutritional perspective, one of the biggest gaps is our limited understanding of inter-organ and inter-organelle communication. Although we know that metabolism is highly integrated, we still do not have a clear idea of how signals are coordinated between tissues and within cells to regulate muscle physiology. Importantly, emerging tools now allow us to begin to interrogate these lines of communication. My own work has contributed to defining how nutrient sensing and signaling shape muscle stem cell function and metabolic regulation, but much remains to be learned about how these pathways integrate across systems. Ultimately, addressing these questions will be important for developing targeted nutritional and metabolic programs to promote healthy aging.
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Genell: Switching gears a bit, I want to ask about your involvement with ASN. How has ASN supported you through your career?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: ASN has played a central role in my career development both academically and as a leader. In addition to serving as Chair of GEM’s Energy Metabolism and Macronutrients, I currently serve on the ASN Board of Directors as the Senior Director of Food Science Mechanisms. These leadership roles, along with opportunities to organize symposia and contribute to the NUTRİTION annual meeting, have been invaluable in developing leadership skills and shaping the field. ASN has also provided a platform for creating collaborations, mentoring practitioners and expanding my academic network nationally and internationally. ASN has been instrumental not only in advancing my science, but in supporting my development as a leader in the nutrition community.
Genell: Mid-career can be both fun and challenging. Why is it important for ASN to recognize and invest in our mid-career members?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: To me, postgraduation represents an important transition point where you expand your research program while simultaneously taking on leadership, mentoring, and administrative responsibilities. At this stage, investigators often lead large, collaborative projects and mentor the next generation of scientists. Recognition and investment at this stage are critical because they provide the resources and visibility needed to maintain momentum, foster innovation, and support the development of future leaders in the industry.
Genell: Looking back, was there a mentor, collaboration, or career turning point that had a particularly significant impact on your academic path?
Dr. Talaker-Mercer: Every phase of my career (University of Georgia, Purdue, UAB, Cornell) has been shaped by mentors and collaborations that have been important at that point and beyond. These experiences provided not only academic training but also the interdisciplinary approaches that now define my work. I also learned invaluable tools from many colleagues (formal and informal mentors), experiences and opportunities. I have learned to appreciate every step of the way, both the easy and difficult moments, as each has given me the tools to advance my career and helped shape both my scientific perspective and my approach to mentoring others.
Genell: Thank you so much for participating in this interview! I encourage readers to reserve their seats at NUTRITION 2026 to learn more about their groundbreaking discoveries!
The food community brings together individuals with a wide range of experiences, perspectives and ideas. This diversity is one of the great forces of our professional society. Through this member attention serieswe celebrate the achievements and impact of our members across the industry.
