Skip to main content Skip to main menu
UF Health University of Florida
College of Public Health & Health Professions University of Florida
Spring Graduation Information
Sarah M Judge

Sarah M Judge,

Research Assistant Professor

Department: HP-PHYSICAL THERAPY
Business Phone: (352) 273-9146
Business Email: smsenf@ufl.edu
CV: View Curriculum Vitae

On This Page

About Sarah M Judge

Sarah Judge is a research assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and an investigator in the UF Health Cancer Center and Myology Institute at the University of Florida. She co-directs the Pathophysiology course in the Doctor of Physical Therapy first-year curriculum. The primary objective of Dr. Judge’s NIH/NCI-funded research program is to better define mechanisms of cancer-induced skeletal muscle wasting, which is a defining feature of the wasting syndrome known as cachexia. Cachexia is a complex metabolic disorder that is believed to be driven by both central and peripheral impacts of systemic inflammation that occurs not only in the presence of cancer, but in other inflammatory diseases and disorders such as sepsis and chronic kidney disease. In patients with cancer, the loss of lean muscle mass associated with cachexia decreases patient quality of life, reduces tolerance to cancer treatments and is estimated to contribute to up to 30% of all cancer-related deaths. Despite this, there is no US FDA-approved pharmacological agent to treat cachexia, highlighting a critical gap in treatment. Through the use of tissue biopsies from cancer patients, pre-clinical models of cancer and cell culture model systems, Dr. Judge’s research uses a dynamic approach to investigate clinically relevant pathways and effector molecules as drivers of cancer-induced muscle loss. Dr. Judge earned a B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science and PhD in Exercise Physiology/Skeletal Muscle Biology, both from the University of Florida. She is currently Principal Investigator on an active R01 award from the NIH/National Cancer Institute looking at tissue-specific mechanisms of cachexia induced by pancreatic cancer and also serves as co-PI on an NIH Small Business Grant investigating novel therapeutic targets to treat cachexia induced by multiple cancer types.

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught

  1. PHT6153 – Physiology for Pt

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

  2. PHT6935C – Seminar

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

  3. PHT6157 – Pathophysiology for Physical Therapy

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

  4. HSC4970 – Public Health and Health Professions Senior Honors Thesis

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

  5. RSD6910 – Supervised Research

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

  6. RSD7979 – Advanced Research

    College of Public Health and Health Professions

Research Profile

Areas of Interest

  • Cancer Cachexia
  • Fibrosis
  • Inflammation
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Skeletal muscle wasting
  • pre-clinical models

Publications

Academic Articles

Grants

  1. Comparing the morphology and molecular profile of skeletal muscle tissue and the influence of tobacco and obesity on pancreatic cancer outcomes in a diverse cohort of Floridian

    Active

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CTR & RES INST via FL DEPT OF HLTH BIOMED RES PGM/J&E KING

  2. Matricellular proteins of the CNN family as regulators of tumor-induced cachexia

    Active

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

  3. Development of Novel Therapeutics for Cancer Cachexia

    Active

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    EMMYON via NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

  4. Conference Funding for Advances in Skeletal Muscle Biology in Health and Disease Conferences

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    THE COMPANY OF BIOLOGISTS

  5. The Complement System and Cancer Cachexia

    Active

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAMS

  6. Ursolic acid as a countermeasure to cancer cachexia

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    FL DEPT OF HLTH BANKHEAD-COLEY CANCER RE

  7. FoxO signaling and skeletal muscle atrophy

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAMS

  8. OoR CTSI Institutional Matching Support

    Role:
    Project Manager
    Funding:
    UF DIV OF SPONSORED RES MATCHING FUNDS

  9. Initiating Mechanisms of Cancer Cachexia

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    FL DEPT OF HLTH BANKHEAD-COLEY CANCER RE

Education

  1. PhD in Exercise Physiology/Skeletal Muscle Biology

    University of Florida

  2. Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science

    University of Florida

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-9146
Emails:
Business:
smsenf@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100154
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
1275 CENTER DR
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610