Their research, recently published in the peer-reviewed journal JCI Insight, reveals a novel link between metabolic syndrome and the oral microbiome. The team discovered that even in the absence of dental disease, individuals with metabolic syndrome show distinct changes in their oral bacteria – suggesting that oral health may provide early clues about broader metabolic dysfunction.

This study bridges the fields of endocrinology, microbiology, immunology, and pediatric medicine, reflecting the FOEDRC’s commitment to team science and translational research. As the blog article notes, these findings may open new pathways for earlier diagnosis and intervention for metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, through a simple oral health assessment.

We congratulate FOEDRC faculty members Drs. Taylor, Ganesan, Mangalam, and Curtis on this impactful contribution and their continued leadership in advancing the understanding of diabetes and its associated conditions.

The day featured approximately 200 poster presentations representing a wide range of scientific disciplines, including diabetes and metabolism, and attracted a strong turnout from faculty, trainees, and staff. In addition to poster sessions, attendees enjoyed two concurrent mini-symposia tracks featuring 10-minute oral presentations. These talks offered trainees and investigators the opportunity to share their work in a dynamic format with colleagues across campus.

A highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Matthew Merrins, Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Merrins presented a compelling lecture titled “Glycolysis: At the Crossroads of Beta-cell Nutrient Sensing, GPCR Signaling, and Incretin Action.” During his visit, he also met one-on-one with FOEDRC faculty and participated in group dinners with researchers whose work intersects with his own, fostering valuable scientific discussion and collaboration.

The day included a catered lunch and concluded with a lively reception, providing an opportunity for attendees to network and reflect on the day’s presentations.

The lab had previously found that fatty lipids called ceramides are a detriment to metabolic health due to their damaging effect on adipocytes’ ability to efficiently store and utilize nutrients. As such, ceramides are involved in a variety of cellular and systemic metabolic issues, and targeting enzymes required for ceramide synthesis offers a path to their improvement while minimizing unintended effects. “Despite these exciting advances, we wondered whether we could identify ceramide effectors that could be targeted to improve metabolic health without altering ceramide levels, opening the door to novel therapies,” said Chaurasia.

In this recent work, the Chaurasia Lab identifies fibroblast growth factor FGF13’s as an effector of ceramide. This new publication in the high-impact Cell Metabolism emphasizes the importance of their findings; although FGF13 has been previously studied in relation to conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias, neurological diseases, and cancers, its role in these metabolic diseases has not been significantly explored.

During their study, the researchers noted obesity-induced FGF13 expression in adipose tissue in both mice and humans, and that this expression was positively associated with glycemic indices seen in Type 2 diabetes. FGF13 exhibits its detrimental effects on metabolic functions by “inhibiting mitochondrial content and function, metabolic elasticity, and caveolae formation, which cumulatively impairs glucose utilization and thermogenesis,” indicating that treatment and prevention for some metabolic diseases, including diabetes, could lie in inhibiting FGF13.

In adult obese and insulin-resistant mice, ablation of FGF13 showed improved insulin sensitivity and resolved excessive fat accumulation in the liver. Further, these methods appear to improve energy and glucose homeostasis without altering ceramide levels. These results show great promise for future research; metabolic diseases are often chronic, complex, and disproportionately impact individuals of lower socioeconomic status. A better understanding of FGF13, and ceramides, presents an opportunity to reduce their effects by making specialized therapies more accessible.

“The identification of FGF13 as a ceramide target provides an additional approach of targeting ceramide pathway for the treatment of metabolic diseases,” Jamal Naderi, PhD, said. Naderi and Himani Thakkar, PhD, share lead authorship on this publication.

Chaurasia would like to thank all the members of his lab, and especially to acknowledge Naderi and Thakkar for their dedication and collaboration.

Honoring Dr. William Sivitz: A Legacy of Discovery in Diabetes and Mitochondrial Research

This month, we are proud to highlight the continued scientific contributions William Sivitz, MD, a foundational member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center and a cornerstone of the University of Iowa’s endocrinology and diabetes research community since 1987.

Dr. Sivitz, now emeritus faculty, remains actively involved in research and continues to publish impactful work. His latest study entitled “Detection of liver mitochondrial oxaloacetate by NMR spectroscopy and membrane potential-dependent accumulation” was recently published in the FASEB Journal. This innovative research utilizes nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate how oxaloacetate—a key metabolic intermediate—is detected and regulated within liver mitochondria, often known as the “powerhouse” of the cell. His findings shed light on the role of mitochondrial membrane potential in oxaloacetate accumulation, offering deeper insight into cellular energy metabolism and its relevance to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Dr. Sivitz’s career exemplifies a powerful blend of clinical care and basic science. As a practicing endocrinologist for decades, his work has always been grounded in improving patient outcomes. His contributions to two of the most influential multicenter diabetes trials—the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes (GRADE) study—have helped shape the clinical standards used to treat people with diabetes today.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sivitz has been a national leader in studying how our cells produce energy and how this process can go wrong in diseases like diabetes. He has focused especially on mitochondria and how their function and stress levels affect the body’s overall health. His research has helped us better understand how small changes at the cellular level can lead to bigger problems in metabolism and disease.

As a founding member of the FOEDRC, Dr. Sivitz has played an essential role in building the research culture that defines our Center. His curiosity, rigor, and mentorship continue to inspire colleagues and trainees alike. We are deeply grateful for his ongoing presence and leadership in our scientific community.

Dr. O’Neill’s research has focused on the often-overlooked impact of diabetes on skeletal muscle function. His investigations into how impaired insulin signaling affects muscle strength and mitochondrial energy production have provided critical insights into the accelerated muscle loss experienced by individuals with diabetes. His work has underscored the importance of glycemic control and identified potential therapeutic targets to mitigate muscle deterioration, particularly for aging patients or those recovering from major surgeries.

His appointment to the ASCI is particularly significant, as he is the first faculty member from the University of Iowa’s Department of Internal Medicine to be elected to this esteemed organization since 2017. Membership in the ASCI is highly selective, requiring nomination and endorsement from distinguished peers in the field. Dr. O’Neill’s nomination was led by his PhD mentor, Dr. E. Dale Abel, and strongly supported by leading researchers from institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic.

As Director of the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Fellowship program, he plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of physician-scientists. His recognition by the ASCI reinforces the FOEDRC’s mission to support and develop leaders in diabetes research.

Dr. O’Neill will be formally inducted into the ASCI in April 2025 in Chicago, where he will join a distinguished group of physician-scientists dedicated to advancing medical discovery. This milestone is not only a testament to his individual achievements but also reflects the collaborative and innovative environment fostered at the University of Iowa.

Her findings reveal that individuals with Turner syndrome who inherit a single X-chromosome from their mother are at a higher risk of elevated blood sugar levels compared to those who inherit their X-chromosome from their father. These results, recently accepted for publication in Hormone Research in Pediatrics, have broader implications for understanding diabetes risk in the general population. Given that males always inherit their X-chromosome from their mother, and females inherit one X from each parent, the study raises important considerations about how parental origin of X-chromosomes may influence metabolic health.

Dr. Andrew Norris, Co-Director of the FOEDRC, contributed to this research, further emphasizing our center’s commitment to advancing knowledge in diabetes and metabolic disease. We look forward to the impact this work will have on future studies and potential clinical applications.

The day began with welcoming remarks from the FOEDRC Co-Directors, Dr. Kamal Rahmouni and Dr. Andrew Norris, who set the tone for an engaging day. Following their remarks, core facility updates were provided by Eric Weatherford, Director of the Metabolic Phenotyping Core Facility who gave an overview of the services and advancements offered by the core and Eric Taylor, Director of the Metabolomics Core Facility who shared updates on the facility’s recent contributions to diabetes research. 

Next, Gourav Bhardwaj, Research Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine – Endocrinology and Metabolism, presented findings from his work as a recent recipient of the Pilot and Feasibility Grant. 

The retreat also featured presentations from three T32 Trainees: 

• Kyle Baum, DO – Weight Loss Induced Effect on Lean Body Mass and Skeletal Muscle Physiology
• Colin Gimblet, PhD – Targeting the Vascular Endothelium to Lower Cardiovascular Risk in Prediabetes
• Alex Keyes, PhD – Dynorphinergic Neurons in the Lateral Pons Inhibit Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain via a Descending Circuit

Their research highlighted the innovative work being undertaken by the next generation of diabetes scientists. 

After a short break, the keynote presentation was delivered by Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD, Director of Indiana Diabetes Research Center at the Indiana School of Medicine. Her lecture titled “The Many Faces of Type 1 Diabetes: Understanding Cell and Tissue-Specific Contributions to Biomarker and Treatment Strategies” helped drive thoughtful discussions. 

During lunch, attendees had the chance to explore poster presentations by three T32-trainee researchers:

• Anna Leinheiser, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences: A Dynamical Systems Model for the Total Fission Rate in Drp1-dependent Mitochondrial Fission.
• Bertha Martin, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology: Role of Caudal Raphe Neurons in Thermoregulation.
• Dalal El Ladiki, MD, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Internal Medicine: Understanding the Role of LIPA-mediated Lipophagy in Maintaining the Function and Health of Beta Islet Cells.

Following lunch, Bing Li, PhD, recipient of the Bridge to the Cure Grant, presented on his research titled “Targeting FABP4 for the Treatment of Obesity-Associated Diseases.” 

The retreat concluded with presentations from the Center for Gene Therapy by Amy Ryan, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Christoph Randak, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics – Pulmonary Medicine offering insights into cutting-edge therapeutic approaches. 

For the 10^th year in a row the retreat was a resounding success, showcasing the depth of research within the FOEDRC and fostering collaboration among scientists and trainees. We look forward to another year of diabetes related discoveries and shared progress in our mission to combat diabetes! 

The study reveals that overnutrition triggers increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system, which releases stress hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine. These hormones interfere with insulin’s ability to regulate blood sugar, even when cellular insulin signaling remains functional. This finding challenges the traditional belief that insulin resistance in obesity primarily stems from impaired insulin signaling. Instead, it highlights the role of the sympathetic nervous system and associated stress hormones in driving metabolic disorders, providing a fresh perspective on the mechanisms linking obesity and diabetes. This work enhances understanding of the complex interactions between obesity, metabolic health, and stress physiology.

The significance of this work extends beyond academia. It has gained widespread attention, featuring in Nature News, Newsweek, and MSN. These outlets have highlighted its potential to reshape how we understand and treat type 2 diabetes, suggesting future therapeutic strategies could focus on managing sympathetic activity and stress hormones rather than solely targeting insulin signaling pathways.  

This collaboration highlights the FOEDRC’s leading role in advancing diabetes research and showcases the significant contributions of its team on a global scale.

Dr. Rahmouni has been a dedicated member of the journal’s editorial board since 2007. His extensive body of work, comprising over 170 publications, has been instrumental in uncovering novel mechanisms behind obesity, diabetes and related cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including the Paul Korner Award from the International Society of Hypertension and the Arthur C. Corcoran Memorial Lecture from the American Heart Association’s Council on Hypertension. 

In addition to his editorial responsibilities and research accomplishments, Dr. Rahmouni’s expertise is recognized worldwide. He is frequently invited to present his research at national and international conferences and academic institutions, where he shares insights that inspire fellow researchers and educators alike. His ability to communicate complex concepts with clarity has made him a sought-after speaker in the scientific community.

We are honored to celebrate this well-deserved achievement and look forward to the continued impact of Dr. Rahmouni’s work. His leadership as Editor-in-Chief will undoubtedly advance the journal’s mission, foster innovative research, and promote collaboration among scientists dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges posed by metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. With Dr. Rahmouni at the helm, we are excited to see the future contributions to the field and the significant strides that will be made in our understanding of physiological processes including those related to diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a test that measures the amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, over a 3-month period. Higher HbA1c levels indicate poor blood sugar control and increase the risk of diabetes complications such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage. The American Diabetes Association recommends maintaining HbA1c below 7% for most individuals with diabetes to minimize these risks.

In addition to HbA1c, modern tools like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and glucose meters allow frequent measurement of blood glucose levels, providing users with their recent average glucose levels.

Dr. Norris and Dr. Lang identified a small mathematical error in commonly used online calculators for converting average glucose to HbA1c. They developed corrected equations that provide more accurate predictions. While these new formulas improve accuracy, there remain ongoing challenges in perfectly aligning average glucose and HbA1c values, as both have inherent variability. This research is a step forward in refining tools used for diabetes management.