Kaleb C. Lund, PhD

Education

• BS in biochemistry from University of Minnesota in 2000
• MS in chemistry from University of Minnesota in 2004
• PhD in toxicology from University of Minnesota in 2007
• Postdoctoral training in herbal science at Bastyr University in 2010

Past Experience

Dr. Lund’s graduate research focused on mitochondrial toxicity of pharmaceuticals — studying the effects of anti-HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on mitochondrial respiration, gene expression and energy signaling. He specifically looked at how NRTIs affected the expression of mitochondria-encoded proteins of oxidative phosphorylation and the phosphoregulation of mitochondrial respiratory complex I.

As a postdoctoral fellow in the Bastyr University Research Institute (BURI), Dr. Lund expanded his research interests to include herbal science research, including the preparation, authentication and assessment of the biological activities of botanical medicines. His postdoctoral research involved the study of how excess glucose leads to mitochondrial dysfunction using in vitro models of hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. This research demonstrated that an extract of Japanese dogwood fruit (Cornus officinalis) prevents NF-κB activation and protects mitochondria from hyperpolarization caused by excess glucose.  

Current Roles

• Interim research laboratory director, Tierney Basic Science Laboratory
• Adjunct faculty,  botanical medicine and basic sciences departments

Dr. Lund is currently researching models to improve the validity of in vitro assessment of botanical medicines including simulated digestion and hepatic metabolism. In addition, he is mentoring several graduate students in research involving the immunomodulating properties of devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus), the protective effects of blackberries (Rubus armeniacus) in advanced glycosylation end-product (AGE) signaling, and analytical research looking at the phytochemical differences between plants grown under different conditions.

Classes Taught

Undergraduate-level courses: Research Methods for Herbal Science, Test Methods for Botanical Authentication, QA/QC for Herbal Science, Pharmacognosy and Materia Medica Labs I & II

Graduate-level courses: Pharmacognosy and Basic/Advanced Laboratory Research Methods. 

Interests

Dr. Lund’s interests include mitochondrial bioenergetics, inflammatory and immune modulation by botanicals, improving the models of in vitro herbal assessment to decrease the use of animal models and the analytical examination of botanicals to demonstrate chemical diversity within species.

Dr. Lund is an herbalist and magical philosopher interested in the interaction of the human organism with plants and the natural world at the chemical/physiological, emotional and spiritual levels. He is particularly interested in the process in which plants facilitate healing through biochemistry, emotional connectedness and ultimately through consciousness. Dr. Lund enjoys reading (and putting into practice) classical texts on herbalism and western mystery traditions, especially the integration of astrology and herbal medicine. 

Philosophy

Dr. Lund believes that the return to health involves the integration of the self into the ecosystem – specifically the realization that you are an integrated part of your environment and that disease represents the separation of our consciousness self with our organism or environment. 

When teaching in the classroom or laboratory, Dr. Lund tries to facilitate personal ownership of knowledge by encouraging the individual’s flow of insights and mistakes in an environment free of judgment.