DMPI News

Dr. Olabisi is a 2009 graduate from the Einstein MSTP program. He completed his undergraduate education at The City College of New York, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Biology. His research focused on the role of serotonin5HT2A and 5HT2C receptors in the actions of cocaine in the nucleus accumbens.

A team of researchers led by DMPI faculty members, Robert McGarrah and Phillip White of the White-McGarrah lab, have identified a novel pathophysiologic effect for a class of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolites called branched-chain keto acids (BCKA) in the heart.

Drs. Gurpreet Baht, PhD and Phillip White, PhD are the 2021 recipients of the Borden Scholars Award. These grants are possible thanks to a series of very generous gifts from Dr. Ernest and Louise Borden (Duke Medical and Nursing School alumni).

DMPI faculty member Rasheed Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS has been named associate dean for physician-scientist development and director of the Office of Physician-Scientist Development (OPSD), a Duke School of Medicine initiative focused on the training and support of physician-scientists. Dr. Gbadegesin has served as the inaugural faculty director of OPSD since 2018.

We are sad to announce the passing of W. David Stedman on Dec. 23, 2020 at the age of 99 years.

Dr. Olga Ilkayeva and Dr. Paul Grimsrud have both been appointed as Research Assistant Professors in the Department of Medicine, Endocrine Division and as DMPI faculty. Dr. Brian Andonian has been appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, and will continue to work closely with Drs. Kim Huffman, Bill Kraus, and Virginia Kraus as a DMPI faculty member.

Drs. Guofang Zhang and Mette Jensen have led studies just published online in Cell Metabolism (Dec. 14, 2020) providing novel insights into the mechanism of fuel-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islet cells.

A team of researchers lead by DMPI faculty members Phillip White and Christopher Newgard have published findings in the journal Cell Reports that provide new mechanistic insight into the longstanding observation of low glycine levels in persons with cardiometabolic disease.

Each academic year, the Endocrine Fellows Foundation (EFF) awards a maximum of 18 research grants. Grants are reviewed by endocrinologists across the country, with decisions based on the quality and potential value of the proposed research, the applicant's experience and enthusiasm, the institution, and the mentor.

DMPI faculty member, Opeyemi A. Olabisi, MD, PhD is one of only 60 recipients to receive the 2019 NIH Director’s New Innovator award.