Education:
- PhD in Human Nutrition from the University of Iowa, 1986
Clinical/Research Interests:
The central focus of my research is on insulin action and GLUT4-dependent glucose metabolism in adipose tissue. GLUT4 is an important effector molecule for mediating the primary actions on insulin in these tissues. Dysregulation of GLUT4 expression and its membrane trafficking plays a central role in mediating the abnormalities in intermediary metabolism and glucose homeostasis that are associated with obesity and lead to type 2 diabetes.
Using transgenic mice to understand the complex regulation of the GLUT4 gene expression and GLUT4-dependent glucose metabolism has been important research tool. Cell culture models are inadequate for understanding the complex physiologic milieu that exists in whole animals. Recentlly, our focus has changed to understand how changes in glucose metabolism through the lifespan alter adipocyte regulation of whole body glucose homeostasis.
Select Publications:
Link to full publication list >