Ian C. Hart

Faculty Member Profile

Ian C. Hart

Professor and Associate Dean and Director

Background ~ Awards Received ~ Courses Taught ~ Research Interests ~ Recent Publications ~ Hobbies or Non-Academic Interests ~ Favorite Links

Phone number 860-486-8344

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Background:

Dr. Hart obtained his BSc at Queen Mary College, London University, UK, and his Ph.D. in Physiology and Biochemistry at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, University of Reading where he continued to work for another 12 years. Between 1985 and 1994 he held a number of increasingly senior positions in the animal health pharmaceutical industry (Coopers Animal Health Ltd., Berkhamsted,UK; American Cyanamid Company, Princeton, NJ, USA; Pfizer, Inc., Groton, CT, USA) before joining the University of Connecticut as Head of the Department of Animal Science in 1994. Since then he has been Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School (2000-2002) and is now Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies, CANR and Director, University of Connecticut, Research Initiatives. He remains tenured in Animal Science and maintains a lively interest in the department’s activities.

Courses Taught:


Research Interests:

His major research interests revolve around the endocrine control of intermediary metabolism as it relates to growth and lactation in domesticated species. He also maintains an active interest in the physiology of the mammary gland.

Notable achievements include: defining the role of prolactin in ruminant lactation; discovering blood hormone and metabolite differences in high and low yielding cattle; examining hepatic glucagon and insulin recepters in ruminants maintained in different metabolic states; defining the different biological properties of heterogeneous forms of growth hormone in sheep and establishing a mechanism by which antibodies may enhance the biological activities of hormones.

Dr. Hart has authored over 130 scientific publications, 3 patents and is co-author of the book entitled “Hormonal Control of Lactation.” He has given over 60 invited seminars in 11 different countries and is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, Biochemical Society, British Society for Animal Production, Nutrition Society, Society for Endocrinology and Society for Reproduction and Fertility.


Recent Publications:

Wang, B. S., Lumanglass, A. L., Szewczyk, E., McWilliams, W., Loullis, C., and Hart, I. C. (1992). A proposed mechanism of action of a growth hormone - specific monoclonal antibody in the enhancement of hormonal activity. Molecular Immunology, 29, 313-317.

United States Patent 5, 210, 180 (1993). Wang, B. S., Hart, I. C. and Sheih, H. M. Enhancement of porcine somatotropin activity.

Baishya, N., Cooper, M. J., Hart, I. C., Jackson, P. S., Furr, B. J. A., Jenkins, G. and Pope, G. S. (1994). Effect of luteolytic doses of prostaglandin F2 and cloprostenol on concentrations of progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, glucose, insulin, growth hormone, thyroxine, prolactin and cortisol in jugular plasma of lactating dairy cows. British Veterinary Journal, 150, 569-583.

Hart, I. C. (1994) The endocrine control of lactation in animals. In: Contributions of Nutrition to Human Health, pp 213-232. Eds. E. M. Widdomson and J. C. Moltens. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

United States Patent 5, 407, 917 (1995). Hart, I. C. Compositions and methods for the enhancement of performance in meat-producing animals and for the treatment and control of disease therein.


Hobbies or Non-Academic Interests:

He lives close to the University in Storrs with his wife. He has two children; one of which graduated in English/Philosophy from the University of Connecticut and the second graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. His interests include house maintenance and competing in Jaguar sports car shows around the Northeast.