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.

For the NIDDK project, Dr. Stephens and his team will be investigating the role of pancreatic beta cell (β-cell) failure in the transition from insulin resistance to Type 2 diabetes. Because defects in the β-cell’s synthesis of insulin are not completely understood, understanding if and how β-cell function could be restored would have significant therapeutic value. “Our observations have identified a new mechanism linking defects in mitochondrial and redox metabolism with the decline of insulin production in Type 2 diabetes,” Stephens said. “Our proposed studies will define the molecular linkages between mitochondrial metabolism and insulin production and address how this process is dismantled early in the development of Type 2 diabetes.”

Regarding the Breakthrough T1D project, “Our recent studies have uncovered a novel role for immune-derived inflammatory signals in remodeling the β-cell’s surface that may provide critical insight into the beta-cell’s role in Type 1 diabetes development,” Stephens said and that “We propose that inflammatory mediators activate a molecular switch in the β-cell that generates immunogenic signals on the β-cell surface. Our work will define the molecular mechanisms of how inflammatory signals activate this molecular switch and define key changes to the β-cell surface.”

Notably, both grants build on preliminary work funded by the FOEDRC Pilot & Feasibility grant that Dr. Stephens obtained in 2022, demonstrating a significant return on investment. 

Congratulations to Dr. Stephens on this milestone! We look forward to celebrating even more of his achievements in the future.

Recent work led by FOEDRC faculty, Dr. Ling Yang, discovered that both obese mice and humans have a weaker stress response and higher levels of inflammation in their pituitary glands. This inflammation disrupts a specific stress response pathway, making it harder to prevent hormonal issues and the progression of NAFLD. Dr. Yang and her team also discovered that they could simulate the effect of obesity on the pituitary by removing a stress response gene called IRE1 from the pituitary gland. Interestingly, this caused hypothyroidism (a condition where the thyroid does not produce enough hormones) and reduced the ability of the liver to handle metabolic stressors like diabetes and fat accumulation. Dr. Yang and her team then administered a thyroid hormone-like medication to the mice, and found that the liver ability to handle metabolic stress was restored to normal and this improved NAFLD in mice with pituitary gland issues.

The study by Dr. Ling and colleagues is the first to show how obesity causes problems in the pituitary gland and how the communication between the pituitary gland and liver affects the progression of NAFLD.

Dr. Adeyinka Taiwo, a physician scientist and FOEDRC faculty member, has dedicated her research career to studying MASH in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Her work aims to unravel the metabolic abnormalities that contribute to liver dysfunction in this population.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Taiwo has been selected as a 2024 DiabDocs Program Scholar. This prestigious program, administered by Stanford University and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sup ports the academic research career development of physician-scientists with a focus on diabetes research. As a DiabDocs Scholar, Dr. Taiwo will receive additional resources to advance her investigations into MASH and diabetes.

We are particularly proud of Dr Taiwo, as she received her diabetes research training here at the University of Iowa. Early on, the FOEDRC recognized her potential, drive, and vision for improving diabetes treatments. We appointed her to our NIH-funded T32 Diabetes Research Training Program. Now that she is faculty, she continues her impactful work, contributing to better outcomes for individuals with diabetes.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Taiwo on her achievements and commitment to diabetes research!

Dr. Adeyinka Taiwo, a physician scientist and FOEDRC faculty member, has dedicated her research career to studying MASH in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Her work aims to unravel the metabolic abnormalities that contribute to liver dysfunction in this population.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Taiwo has been selected as a 2024 DiabDocs Program Scholar. This prestigious program, administered by Stanford University and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sup ports the academic research career development of physician-scientists with a focus on diabetes research. As a DiabDocs Scholar, Dr. Taiwo will receive additional resources to advance her investigations into MASH and diabetes.

We are particularly proud of Dr Taiwo, as she received her diabetes research training here at the University of Iowa. Early on, the FOEDRC recognized her potential, drive, and vision for improving diabetes treatments. We appointed her to our NIH-funded T32 Diabetes Research Training Program. Now that she is faculty, she continues her impactful work, contributing to better outcomes for individuals with diabetes.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Taiwo on her achievements and commitment to diabetes research!

After the symposiums, the event transitioned to a poster session showcasing 29 diverse posters that presented a wide array of research projects by students and faculty members. This session provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to share their findings, engage with peers, and receive feedback from experts in the field. Posters were judged for their effectiveness by faculty. 

Randy Seeley PhD, Director of the Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center was the keynote speaker this year. His talk, titled, “What Bariatric Surgery Tells Us About the Role of the Gut in Metabolic Diseases,” explored the complex interplay between bariatric surgery and gut function, and how these can be leveraged to treat diabetes. 

Winners of the poster contest were as follows. The FOEDRC congratulates these trainees for their excellent posters: 

1^st place: Defining the mechanisms of FGF21-mediated reversal of metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Jesse P. Rose, Iltan Aklan and Matthew J. Potthoff

2^nd place: Adipocyte Spheroid Model Development for Physiologically Relevant Toxin Screening. Jesse Leszewski, R Behan-Bush, M Schrodt, E Sander, A Klingelhutz, James Ankrum

3^rd place: NADPH Oxidase 4 Contributes to Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Brandon M. Schickling, Franziska Bollmann, Anna Schwarzkopf, Francis J. Miller Jr

And

SerpinA3N in Leptin Receptor Neurons Regulates Metabolic and Glucose Homeostasis. Deng-Fu Guo, Alexis Olson, Kamal Rahmouni

The 2024 Annual Diabetes Research Day was a resounding success, underscoring the University of Iowa’s commitment to advancing diabetes research. The event showcased the remarkable work of the FOEDRC researchers and provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and future collaborations.