Researchers´ Profiles - Sven Ebbesson

Sven O.E. Ebbesson, PhD, is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Alaska; Senior Scientist at the MedStar Research Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland; and Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia. Prior to his retirement from the University of Alaska, he served in a variety of positions, including Senior Scientist, United States Public Health Service; Associate Dean of the University of Puerto Rico; Professor of Medical Science and Director of the WAMI Program [a medical education program serving the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho]; and Director of the Alaska Siberia Medical Research Program based at the University of Alaska.
 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1958–1960, Assistant of Anatomy, Tulane University
1962–1965, Physiologist, Department of Neurophysiology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,
1965–1969, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke
1969–1972, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Anatomy, University of Virginia
1972–1976, Professor of Neurological Surgery and Anatomy, University of Virginia
1976–1979, Associate Dean, Prof of Anatomy, Dir of the Graduate Program, Univ of Puerto Rico Medical School
1979–1983, Professor of Anatomy and Special Assistant to the Dean, Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, PR
1983–1985, Professor of Anatomy, LSU School of Medicine, Shreveport, LA
1985–1987, Professor of Medical Science, Director, Department of Medical Science, University of Alaska
1986–1999, Professor, Neuroscience and Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks
1988–Present, Director, Alaska-Siberia Medical Research Program, University of Alaska
1992–1993, Acting Director, Institute of Circumpolar Health Studies, University of Alaska
1999-Present, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia
2002-2005, Senior Scientist, MedStar Research Institute
2004-Present, Senior Scientist, Norton Sound Health Corporation

HONORS

1965, Army Commendation Medal for Exceptional Meritorious Service
1970–1975, NIH Career Development Award
1972–1974, President, Virginia Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
1976, President and Founder, Puerto Rico Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
1979, Doctor of Science (Honoris causa), Southwestern College
1980–Humboldt Prize
1983–1984, President, Shreveport Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
1981–1986, Council Member, International Society for Neuroethology
1988–1993, President and Founder, Alaska Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
1992, Member, Royal Physiographic Society : The Academy of Medicine, etc., (Sweden)
1993–1997, Regional Editor, Arctic Medical Research
1993–1996, President, American Society for Circumpolar Health
1993–1996, Council Member, International Union of Circumpolar Health
1993, Foreign Member, Russian Academy of Medical Science
1999, Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska
2002, Science Hall of Fame, Southwestern College
2006, Annual Sven Ebbesson Award established, University of Alaska - Fairbanks

MILITARY SERVICE

1961–1965, United States Army, Private to Captain
1965–1969, United States Public Health Service, Lieutenant Commander to Commander

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1998-2001 NIH–National Advisory Committee on Minority Health Research

Selected peer-reviewed publications (in chronological order):

Ebbesson, SOE, Schraer, DC, Nobmann, ED, and Ebbesson, LOE. 1996. Lipoprotein profiles in Yupik Eskimos: the Alaska-Siberia Project. Arct. Med. Res. 55:165–173.

Schraer, CD, Ebbesson, SOE, Boyko, EJ, Nobmann, ED, Adler, AI, and Cohen, J. 1996. Hypertension and diabetes among Siberian Yupik Eskimos of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Public Health Reports, Vol. III, Supplement, 42–44.

Ebbesson, SOE, Smith, J, Co, C, and Ebbesson, LOE. 1996. Transient alterations in neurotransmitter levels during a critical period of neural development in coho salmon (Onchorhynchus kisutch). Brain Research 742:339-344.

Schraer CD, Risica PM, Ebbesson SOE, Go OT, Howard BV, Mayer AM. Low fasting insulin levels in Eskimos compared to American Indians: Are Eskimos less insulin resistant?1999 Int. J. Circumpol. Health 58:272-80.

Ebbesson, SOE, Kennish, J, and Ebbesson, LOE. 1996. Plasma fatty acid profiles in Eskimos. Proc. X Int. Congr. Circump. Health. Abstract.

Biery, AJ, Ebbesson, SOE, Shuldiner, AR, Boyer, BB. 1997. The 3-adrenergic receptor TRP64ARG polymorphism and obesity in Alaskan Eskimos. Int. J. Obesity. 21:1176–1179.

Schraer, CD, Ebbesson, SOE, Adler, AI, Cohen, JS, Boyko, EJ, and Nobmann, ED. 1998. Glucose tolerance and insulin resistance syndrome among St. Lawrence Island Eskimos: The Alaska-Siberia Project. Arct. Med. Res. 57:4–17.

Nobmann, ED, Ebbesson, SOE, White, RG, Schraer, CD, Hankin, JH, Lanier, AP, and Bulkow, LR. 1998. Dietary intakes among Siberian Yupiks of Alaska and implications for cardiovascular disease. Int. J. Circumpol. Health. 57: 4-17

Ebbesson, SOE, Schraer, CD, Adler, A, Risica, PM, Robbins, DC, Yeh, J.. Go, O, and Ebbesson, LOE. 1998. Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in three Alaskan Eskimo populations: The Alaska-Siberia Project. Diabetes Care. 21:563–569.

Risica, PM, Schraer, C, Ebbesson, SOE, Nobmann, ED, and Caballero, B. 2000. Overweight and Obesity in Alaskan Eskimos of the Bering Straits Region: The Alaska Siberia Project. Am. Int. J. Obesity 24:939-944.

Risica, PM, Ebbesson, SOE, Schraer, CD, Nobmann, ED, and Caballero, B. 2000. Body fat distribution in Alaskan Eskimos of the Bering Straits Region: The Alaska Siberia Project. Int. J. Obesity 24: 171-179.

Nobmann, ED, Ebbesson, SOE, White, RG, Bulkow, LR, and Schraer, CD. 1999. Association between dietary factors and plasma lipids related to cardiovascular disease among Siberian Yupiks of Alaska. Int. J. Circumpol. Health 58:254-271.

Ebbesson, SOE, Kennish, J, Ebbesson, LOE, Go, O, and Yeh, J. 1998. Diabetes is related to fatty acid imbalance in Eskimos. Int. J. Circumpol. Health 58:108-119.

Mohatt J, Gilliam LK, Bekus L, Ebbesson SOE,Lernmark A. 2002.Type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies are rare I Alaska native populations. Int. J. Circumpolar Health 61:21-31.

Bjerregaard P, Ebbesson SOE, et.al.2003.Blood pressure among the Inuit (Eskimo) populations in the Arctic. Scand. J. Public Health 31:92-99.

Bjerregaard P, Young TK, Dewailly E, Ebbesson SOE. 2004 Indigenous health I the Arctic: an overview of the circumpolar Inuit population. Scand J Public Health 32: 390-395

Nobmann ED, Ponce R, Mattil C, Devereux R, Dyke B, Ebbesson SOE, Laston S, MacCluer J, Robbins D, Romenesko T, Ruotolo G, Wenger C, Howard BV. 2005.Dietary intakes of Alaskan Eskimo Adults of Northwest Alaska, 2000-2003: The GOCADAN Study. J. Nutr. 135:856-862.

Ebbesson SOE, Risica PM, Ebbesson LOE, Kennish JM.2005.Eskimos have CHD despite high consumption of omega-3 fatty acids; The Alaska Siberia Project. Int. J Circumpolar Health 64:416-424.

Ebbesson SOE, Laston S, Wenger CR, Dyke B, Romenesko T, Swenson M, Fabsitz R, MacCluer JW, Devereux R, Roman M, Robbins D, Howard BV.2006. Recruitment and Community Interactions in the GOCADAN Study. Int J Circumpolar Health, 65:55-64, 2006.

Howard BV, Devereux RB, Cole SA, Davidson M, Dyke B, Ebbesson SOE, Epstein SE, Robinson DR, Jarvis B, Kaufman DF, Laston S, MacCluer JW, Okin PM, Roman MJ, Romenesko T, Ruotolo G, Swenson M, Wenger CR, Wiliams-Blangero S, Zhu J, Saccheus C, Fabsitz RR, Robbins DC. 2005 The Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN) Study: Design and Methods. Int J Circumpolar Health 64:206-221.

Risica PM, Nobmann ED, Caulfield LE, Schraer C, Ebbesson SOE.2005.Springtime macronutrient intake of Alaska Natives of the Bering Straits region: The Alaska Siberia Project. J International Circumpolar Health 64:222-233.

Ebbesson SOE, Adler AI, Risica PM, Ebbesson LOE, Yeh J-L, Go OT, Doolittle W, Ehler G, Swenson M Robbins DC.2005. Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in three Alaskan Eskimo populations: The Alaska-Siberia Project. Int. J. Circumpol. Health 64:378-399.

Ebbesson SOE, Risica PM, Ebbesson LOE, Kennish JM, Tejero ME. 2005.Omega 3 fatty acids improve glucose tolerance and components of the metabolic syndrome in Alaskan Eskimos: The Alaska Siberia Project. Int. J. Circumpol. Health 64:365-377.

Ebbesson SOE, Ebbesson LOE, Swenson M, Kennish JM, Robbins DC.2005. A successful Diabetes Prevention study in Eskimos: The Alaska Siberia Project. Int J Circumpol Health 64:400-415.

Voruganti VS, Cai G, Cole SA, Freeland-Graves JH, Laston S, Wenger C, MacCluer JW, Dyke B, Devereux RB, Ebbesson SOE, Fabsitz RR, Howard BV, Comuzzie AG. 2006. A common set of genes regulates LDL size and obesity-related factors in Alaskan Eskimos: Results from the Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN) project. Am J Hum Biol. 18:525-31.

Carter EA, MacCluer JW, Dyke B, Howard BV, Devereux RB, Ebbesson SOE, Resnick HE. 2006. Diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in Alaska Eskimos: The GOCADAN Study. Diabetologia. 49:29-35.

Smith HS, Bjerregaard P, Chan HM, Corriveau A, Ebbesson SOE, Etzel RA, Fabsitz RR, Hakonarson H, Hild C, Nobmann ED, Reading J, Tereshchenko L, Young TK, Howard BV. 2006. Research with Arctic Peoples: Unique research opportunities in heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. Working group summary and recommendations. Int J Circumpol Health. 65:79-90.

Zhu J, Davidson M, Leinonen M, Saikku M, Gaydos CA,Canos DA, Gutman KA, and the GOCADAN Study Invetigators. 2006 Prevelance and Persistence of Herpes viruses, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori Antibodies in Alaska Eskimos: the GOCADAN Study. Clin Microbio Infect. 12:118-122.

Fabsitz RR, Best L, Devereux RB, Dyke B, Ebbesson SOE, Howard BV, Lee E, MacCluer JW, Resnick H, Roman MJ, Welty T. 2005. Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among American Indians and Alaskan Eskimos: results from the Strong Heart and GOCADAN studies. Hypertension (Submitted).

Young TK, Bjerregaard P, Dewailly E, Risica PM, Jørgensen ME, Ebbesson SOE, 2005. Ethnic specific criteria for obesity-evidence from the Inuit in three countries. Lancet (Submitted).

Kaufman DJ, Roman M, Devereux RB, Fabsitz R, Gutman K, Dyke B, Ebbesson SOE, Howard BV. 2005. Prevalence and correlates of smoking and its relationship with carotid atherosclerosis in Alaska Eskimos: The GOCADAN Study. Am J Epidemiology (Submitted).

Research Support:

Completed Research Support
R01 DK47099 Ebbesson (PI) 1993-2000
Diabetes Prevention in Yupik Eskimos
Role: PI (50% Effort)

R01 HL64244 2000 – 2005
Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN)
Role: Co-Investigator (35% Effort)

Recently funded 2005-2010
5U01 HL082458
Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN)
Role: Principal Investigator (50% effort) cooperative agreement with Barbara Howard and Anthony Comuzzie