Brett M. Frye

Assistant Professor of Biology Biology

For my research, I’m interested in how environmental factors - such as diet or social status - influence health outcomes in nonhuman primates with the goal to better understand similar processes in humans. I use a comprehensive approach to study aging and health outcomes, including measurements of brain anatomy, social behavior, sleep, physical function, and cognition. I have worked with several species of nonhuman primates, including golden lion tamarins, common marmosets, vervets, and long-tailed macaques. Ultimately, I hope my work will advance our understanding of the foundations variation in aging and health disparities across the life span.

Education

BS Biology & Chemistry - Emory & Henry College

MS Biology - Winthrop University

PhD Biological Sciences - Clemson University

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Wake Forest School of Medicine

Teaching

BIOL 120 - Integrated Human Anatomy & Physiology I

BIOL 121 - Integrated Human Anatomy & Physiology II

BIOL 117 - General Biology

Research

See Google Scholar Page for a list of publications/presentations.

Three main areas of research:

1) Studies to determine environmental factors that promote early Alzheimer’s disease-like neuropathology in order to identify modifiable risk factors that might change the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease risk

2) Studies examining the relationships between aging-related declines (e.g., physical and cognitive impairment) and their relationship to Alzheimer’s disease-like neuropathology in vervet monkeys

3) Studies to examine the how sibling interactions impact physiology, behavior, health, survival, and reproduction in callitrichine primates