Research Activities
The focus of our research programs is on insulin signaling mechanisms, islet cell transplantation, gonadotropin gene expression, endocrine oncology, male hypogonadism, and clinical diabetes.
Sham K. Kakar, Ph.D. My major research interest is to understand the molecular mechanism for the causation and prevention of hormone-related cancers. I am working on two research projects: 1) to define the molecular mechanisms for inhibition of tumor cell growth and proliferation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor activation, and 2) to study the role of pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in the development of ovarian tumorigenesis and matastasis.
Sathya Krishnasamy, M.D. I am interested in clinical research in patients with the metabolic syndrome. I am currently investigating the impact of Vitamin D deficiency in obesity and cardiovascular function.
SriPrakash Mokshundam, M.D. I am interested in clinical research in type 2 diabetes. I am presently studying glucose intolerance in patients with spinal cord injury and mechanisms of inflammation in diabetes mellitus.
Joseph P. Moore, Ph.D. and Stephen J. Winters, M.D. Our research examines the regulation of follistatin and gonadotropin subunit gene expression by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the fetal and newborn pituitary.This peptide differentially regulates expression of the gonadotropins LH and FSH through a novel paracrine mechanism applicable primarily in the fetus.
John Stagner, Ph.D. My laboratory studies the function of pancreatic islets and is developing new approaches for islet transplantation for diabetes.
Betty C. Villafuerte, M.D. My laboratory studies insulin-regulated gene transcription in type 2 diabetes. We identified a novel Akt substrate that we named IRE-BP1which binds to the insulin-response elements of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and other insulin-responsive genes. We are presently examining the regulation of IRE-BP1 by insulin and its function in rat models of diabetes. We are also studying the effects of IRE-BP1 over-expression in pancreatic beta cells in the regulation of insulin secretion, and in the control of body weight and appetite.
