Experts in this group use molecular, cellular, and model systems approaches to dissect the mechanisms underlying both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Mentors in this Group
Haijiang Cai, PhD.
Dr. Cai focuses on studying neural circuit mechanisms of animal behaviors in health and disease, with a focus on 1) interactions of ingestive and emotion neural circuits, 2) circuity of gut-brain communication, and 3) eating and emotional circuits in energy balance, metabolism, and obesity.
Xinxin Ding, PhD.
Dr. Ding studies drug metabolism/disposition, enzyme function/regulation, drug safety/efficacy, and genetics applied to risks for chemical toxicity.
James Galligan, PhD.
Dr. Galligan studies the links between cellular metabolism, environmental genetics, and disease etiology. Emphasizing post-translational modifications, research focuses on deleterious reactive metabolites. Current work centers on metabolism-related histone modifications in diabetes and cancer.
Ling He, PhD.
Dr. He's focuse is on glucose and lipid metabolism and the involvement of mitochondrial dynamics. Currently, this laboratory is working on (1) defining the molecular mechanisms of metformin’s effects on mitochondrial dynamics and respiration through AMPK activation; (2) investigating mechanisms leading to the paradoxical concurrence of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obesity and type 2 diabetes; and (3) the mechanisms responsible for the mitochondrial expansion in neonates.
Michael Kuhns, PhD.
Dr. Kuhns focuses on increasing basic understanding of T cell development, activation, and differentiation to manipulate decisions that direct T cells toward a desired outcome, affecting inflammation in states like diabetes.
Mingyu Liang, PhD.
Dr. Liang research focus is in molecular systems medicine. Current work focuses on three areas: (epi)genomics and precision medicine, regulatory RNA, and cellular metabolism, as they relate to hypertension and cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases, relevant to diabetic kidney disease. Approaches integrate human research with animal, iPSC, and other model systems research approaches of physiology, multi-omics, single-cell and spatial omics, genome editing, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular and cell biology.
Sean Limesand, PhD.
Dr. Limesand investigates the relationship between early risk factors (e.g., intrauterine growth restriction) and the risk of childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Sally Radovick, MD.
Dr. Radovick is a pediatric endocrinologist whose research deals primarily with the development and function of neuroendocrine control of mammalian growth and development. She has a broad background in physiology and molecular biology including generation of genetically engineered mice as models for human disease. Her clinical research includes studies to understand the genetic basis for short stature and determination of the appropriate dosing of metformin in children. She is a co-investigator on epidemiologic studies to determine the long-term metabolic effects of premature birth.
Benjamin Renquist, PhD.
Dr. Renquist investigates mechanisms of fatty liver disease and diabetes, focusing on the role of liver GABA production and the GABA shunt. We extend our findings to other obesity associated pathophysiology (fatty liver, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, asthma, and cancer) and body mass regulation. We are currently funded to conduct drug discovery studies aimed at creating novel inhibitors of GABA transaminase.
Ashley Snider, PhD.
Dr. Snider's focus is on defining the roles of lipid metabolic pathways in intestinal biology and pathobiology, focusing on dietary fatty acids and sphingolipids: 1) in ER stress and inflammation, 2) in animal models of inflammation and diabetes and colitis-associated cancer, and 3) and their metabolizing enzymes in intestinal biology and pathobiology.
Jennifer Stern, PhD.
Dr. Stern performs studies to understand the role of glucoregulatory hormone signaling in the pathogenesis of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and aging.
Fredric Wondisford, MD.
Dr. Wondisford's research focuses on regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis, using basic and clinical research approaches.