Directory

Ryan Dilger's directory photo.

Ryan Dilger

Professor

Primary Affiliation

Neurotechnology for Memory and Cognition

Affiliations

Status Part-time Faculty

Home Department of Animal Sciences

Phone 333-2006

Email rdilger2@illinois.edu

Address

  • Biography

    Ryan Dilger is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. His areas of research includes immunophysiology and behavior, production and environment change, and nutrition. 

    Education

    • B.S.,  Purdue University, 2001
    • M.S., Purdue University, 2004
    • Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007
  • Honors
    • 2020: University Scholar, University of Illinois 
    • 2016: Distinguished Promotion Award, University of Illinois 
    • 2016: Outstanding Young Researcher Award, University of Illinois College of ACES 
    • 2016: North American College Teachers Association (NACTA) Educator Award
    • 2016: Bio-Serv Award in Experimental Animal Nutrition, American Society for Nutrition (ASN) 
    • 2016: Midwest Outstanding Young Researcher Award, American Society for Animal Science (ASAS) 
  • Research

    The research in our laboratory integrates the interdisciplinary fields of animal nutrition, immunophysiology, and neuroscience, including the ability of nutrients to impact metabolic, immunologic, and developmental patterns. We focus on comparative animal nutrition, with an emphasis on biochemical aspects of proteins and amino acids, but also strive to integrate immunological and behavioral outcomes as related to overall animal health. One notable project in our lab is the use of a translational piglet model for studying the impact of nutrient intake and infection during the neonatal period on brain development and cognitive function (i.e., learning and memory). Overall, research projects in this laboratory can be broadly categorized into two areas: 1) practical nutrition issues facing animal agriculture, and 2) fundamental nutrition questions studied using translational animal models to improve human/animal health and well-being.

  • 2016

    • Mudd, A. T.; Getty, C. M.; Sutton, B. P.; Dilger, R. N., Perinatal Choline Deficiency Delays Brain Development and Alters Metabolite Concentrations in the Young Pig. Nutritional Neuroscience 2016, 19, DOI:10.1179/1476830515Y.0000000031.
    • Mudd, A. T.; Waworuntu, R. V.; Berg, B. M.; Dilger, R. N., Dietary Alpha-Lipoic Acid Alters Piglet Neurodevelopment. Frontiers in Pediatrics 2016, 4, DOI:ARTN 44 10.3389/fred.2016.00044. Mudd, A. T.; Alexander, L. S.; Berding, K.; Waworuntu, R. V.; Berg, B. M.; Donovan, S. M.; Dilger, R. N., Dietary Prebiotics, Milk Fat Globule Membrane, and Lactoferrin Affects Structural Neurodevelopment in the Young Piglet. Frontiers in Pediatrics 2016, 4, DOI:ARTN 4 10.3389/fped.2016.00004.
    • Rochell, S. J.; Helmbrecht, A.; Parsons, C. M.; Dilger, R. N., Influence of Dietary Amino Acid Reductions and Eimeria Acervulina Infection on Growth Performance and Intestinal Cytokine Responses of Broilers Fed Low Crude Protein Diets. Poultry Science 2016, DOI:10.3382/ps/pew153.
    • Rochell, S. J.; Parsons, C. M.; Dilger, R. N., Effects of Eimeria Acervulina Infection Severity on Growth Performance, Apparent Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility, and Plasma Concentrations of Amino Acids, Carotenoids, and ?1-Acid Glycoprotein in Broilers. Poultry Science 2016, 95, (7), 1573-1581, DOI:10.3382/ps/pew035.

    2015

    • Alexander, L.; Mudd, A.; Berding, K.; Waworuntu, R.; Berg, B.; Donovan, S.; Dilger, R., A Dietary Prebiotic Blend of Polydextrose and Galactooligosaccharides with Bioactive Whey Protein Fractions Affects Piglet Intestinal Function and Brain Microstructure. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Berding, K.; Wang, M.; Monaco, M.; Berg, B.; Waworuntu, R.; Dilger, R.; Donovan, S., Immunohistochemical Detection of Gut-Brain-Axis Markers along the Gastrointestinal Tract of Formula-Fed Piglets. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Getty, C. M.; Almeida, F. N.; Baratta, A. A.; Dilger, R. N., Plasma Metabolomics Indicates Metabolic Perturbations in Low Birth Weight Piglets Supplemented with Arginine. Journal of Animal Science 2015, 93, (12), 5754-5763, DOI:10.2527/jas.2015-9293.
    • Getty, C. M.; Dilger, R. N., Moderate Perinatal Choline Deficiency Elicits Altered Physiology and Metabolomic Profiles in the Piglet. Plos One 2015, 10, (7), DOI:ARTN e0133500 10.1371/journal.pone.0133500.
    • Jacob, R.; Mudd, A.; Lai, C. S.; Dilger, R., Impact of the Dietary Lipid Matrix on Neurodevelopmental Patterns of the Piglet. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Mudd, A.; Alexander, L.; Waworuntu, R.; Berg, B.; Donovan, S.; Dilger, R., Hippocampal Metabolites Correlate with Neuroimaging Outcomes in the Piglet. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Mudd, A.; Getty, C.; Dilger, R., Neurodevelopment in Piglets Is Influenced by Perinatal Choline Status as Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Panasevich, M. R.; Allen, J. M.; Wallig, M. A.; Woods, J. A.; Dilger, R. N., Moderately Fermentable Potato Fiber Attenuates Signs and Inflammation Associated with Experimental Colitis in Mice. Journal of Nutrition 2015, 145, (12), 2781-2788, DOI:10.3945/jn.115.218578.
    • Panasevich, M. R.; Kerr, K. R.; Dilger, R. N.; Fahey, G. C.; Guerin-Deremaux, L.; Lynch, G. L.; Wils, D.; Suchodolski, J. S.; Steiner, J. M.; Dowd, S. E.; Swanson, K. S., Modulation of the Faecal Microbiome of Healthy Adult Dogs by Inclusion of Potato Fibre in the Diet. British Journal of Nutrition 2015, 113, (1), 125-133, DOI:10.1017/S0007114514003274.
    • Panasevich, M. R.; Kerr, K. R.; Rossoni Serao, M. C.; deGodoy, M. R. C.; Guérin-Deremaux, L.; Lynch, G. L.; Wils, D.; Dowd, S. E.; Fahey Jr, G. C.; Swanson, K. S.; Dilger, R. N., Evaluation of Soluble Corn Fiber on Chemical Composition and tMEN and Its Effects on in Vitro Fermentation and in Vivo Responses in Dogs. Journal of Animal Science 2015, 93, 2191-2200.
    • Panasevich, M.; Allen, J.; Woods, J.; Dilger, R., Moderately-Fermentable Potato Fiber Attenuates Symptoms during Experimental Colitis. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Radlowski, E.; Liu, H. N.; Conrad, M.; Li, Y.; Dilger, R.; Johnson, R., Early Supplementation of Phospholipids and Gangliosides Affects Brain and Cognitive Development in Neonatal Piglets. FASEB Journal 2015, 29.
    • Rendeiro, C.; Masnik, A. M.; Mun, J. G.; Du, K.; Clark, D.; Dilger, R. N.; Dilger, A. C.; Rhodes, J. S., Fructose Decreases Physical Activity and Increases Body Fat without Affecting Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Learning Relative to an Isocaloric Glucose Diet. Scientific Reports 2015, 5, 9589.
    • Rendeiro, C.; Masnik, A. M.; Mun, J. G.; Du, K.; Clark, D.; Dilger, R. N.; Dilger, A. C.; Rhodes, J. S., Fructose Decreases Physical Activity and Increases Body Fat without Affecting Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Learning Relative to an Isocaloric Glucose Diet. Scientific Reports 2015, 5, DOI:ARTN 9589 10.1038/srep09589.
    • Rochell, S. J.; Alexander, L. S.; Rocha, G. C.; Van Alstine, W. G.; Boyd, R. D.; Pettigrew, J. E.; Dilger, R. N., Effects of Dietary Soybean Meal Concentration on Growth and Immune Response of Pigs Infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. Journal of Animal Science 2015, 93, 2987-2997.

    2014

    • Almeida, J. A. S.; Ponnuraj, N. P.; Lee, J. J.; Utterback, P.; Gaskins, H. R.; Dilger, R. N.; Pettigrew, J. E., Effects of Dietary Clays on Performance and Intestinal Mucus Barrier of Broiler Chicks Challenged with Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium and on Goblet Cell Function in Vitro. Poultry Science 2014, 93, (4), 839-847, DOI: 10.3382/ps.2013-03587.
    • Conrad, M. S.; Sutton, B. P.; Dilger, R. N.; Johnson, R. W., An in Vivo Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Averaged Brain Collection of the Neonatal Piglet (Sus Scrofa). Plos One 2014, 9, (9), DOI:ARTN e107650 DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0107650.
    • Koelkebeck, K. W.; dePersio, S.; Lima, K.; Harrison, P. C.; Utterback, C.; Utterback, P.; Dilger, R. N.; Gates, R. S.; Green, A.; Campbell, J. M., Evaluation of Feeding Spray-Dried Bovine Plasma Protein on Production Performance of Laying Hens Exposed to High Ambient Temperatures. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 2014, 23, (3), 393-402, DOI:10.3382/japr.2013-00876.
    • Liu, H. N.; Radlowski, E. C.; Conrad, M. S.; Li, Y.; Dilger, R. N.; Johnson, R. W., Early Supplementation of Phospholipids and Gangliosides Affects Brain and Cognitive Development in Neonatal Piglets. Journal of Nutrition 2014, 144, (12), 1903-1909, DOI:10.3945/jn.114.199828.
    • Panasevich, M. R.; Kerr, K. R.; Dilger, R. N.; Fahey, G. C.; Guerin-Deremaux, L.; Lynch, G. L.; Wils, D.; Suchodolski, J. S.; Steiner, J. M.; Dowd, S. E.; Swanson, K. S., Modulation of the Faecal Microbiome of Healthy Adult Dogs by Inclusion of Potato Fibre in the Diet. British Journal of Nutrition 2014, 113, 125-133.
    • Radlowski, E. C.; Conrad, M. S.; Lezmi, S.; Dilger, R. N.; Sutton, B.; Larsen, R.; Johnson, R. W., A Neonatal Piglet Model for Investigating Brain and Cognitive Development in Small for Gestational Age Human Infants. Plos One 2014, 9, (3), DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091951.

    2013

    • Dilger, R. N.; Bryant-Angeoni, K.; Payne, R. L.; Lemme, A.; Parsons, C. M., Dietary Guanidino Acetic Acid is an Efficacious Replacement for Arginine for Young Chicks. Poultry Science 2013, 92, (1), 171-177.
    • Johnson, R. W.; Donovan, S. M.; Dilger, R. N., Manganese Neurotoxicity May Underlie the Association between Early Life Iron Deficiency and Impaired Spatial Cognition in Neonatal Piglets Reply. Journal of Nutrition 2013, 143, (4), 549-549.
    • Panasevich, M. R.; Serao, M. C. R.; de Godoy, M. R. C.; Swanson, K. S.; Guerin-Deremaux, L.; Lynch, G. L.; Wils, D.; Fahey, G. C.; Dilger, R. N., Potato Fiber as a Dietary Fiber Source in Dog Foods. Journal of Animal Science 2013, 91, (11), 5344-5352, DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-6842.

    2012

    • Elmore, M. R. P.; Dilger, R. N.; Johnson, R. W., Place and Direction Learning in a Spatial T-Maze Task by Neonatal Piglets. Animal Cognition 2012, 15, (4), 667-676.
    • Faber, T. A.; Dilger, R. N.; Hopkins, A. C.; Price, N. P.; Fahey, G. C., Effects of Oligosaccharides in a Soybean Meal-Based Diet on Fermentative and Immune Responses in Broiler Chicks Challenged with Eimeria Acervulina. Poultry Science 2012, 91, (12), 3132-3140.
    • Faber, T. A.; Dilger, R. N.; Iakiviak, M.; Hopkins, A. C.; Price, N. P.; Fahey, G. C., Ingestion of a Novel Galactoglucomannan Oligosaccharide-Arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) Complex Affected Growth Performance and Fermentative and Immunological Characteristics of Broiler Chicks Challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Poultry Science 2012, 91, (9), 2241-2254.
    • Rytych, J. L.; Elmore, M. R. P.; Burton, M. D.; Conrad, M. S.; Donovan, S. M.; Dilger, R. N.; Johnson, R. W., Early Life Iron Deficiency Impairs Spatial Cognition in Neonatal Piglets. Journal of Nutrition 2012, 142, (11), 2050-2056.