Simon Fisher, MD, PhD, serves as the vice chair for research in the UK College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Fisher is also the chief of the division of endocrinology and director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center. 

His research interests include the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes, insulin action, tissue-specific crosstalk, complications of diabetes, neural glucose sensing, and hormonal counter-regulation. 

His laboratory provides an interactive and interdisciplinary environment that provides rigorous research training and scientific development of staff scientists, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, MD/PhD students, PhD students, and undergraduate students who wish to pursue scientific careers in biomedical research.

Philip A. Kern, MD, is a professor of internal medicine in the division of endocrinology and co-director of the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Kern’s research examines foundational mechanisms of the development of type 2 diabetes, including the roles of exercise and obesity to modulate insulin resistance, particularly in fat and muscle. Current research targets the role of beige and brown fat, circadian rhythms, inflammation, and changes in RNA structure. 

Dr. Kern’s research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1986, he has coauthored over 200 research papers, and he is a mentor to many. In 2019, he was honored as a University Research Professor, the highest research award by the University of Kentucky. In 2023, he received the William R. Willard Dean’s Recognition Award for longstanding dedication to students and trainees.

Dr. Kern is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), an honorary society for clinician-scientists.

Preetha Shridas, PhD, is an associate professor of internal medicine in the division of endocrinology. The Shridas lab investigates the underlying mechanisms of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and sepsis. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), traditionally regarded as the “good cholesterol,” is associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke; however, during inflammation, HDL can become dysfunctional due to alterations in its protein composition, notably the incorporation of the acute-phase protein Serum Amyloid A (SAA).

The lab’s research focuses on elucidating how SAA modulates HDL functionality in different inflammatory contexts. The central hypothesis posits that while SAA contributes to HDL dysfunction in chronic inflammatory diseases, it paradoxically imparts a protective function to HDL in acute inflammatory states such as sepsis. This dual role positions SAA as a “double-edged sword,” providing protection in acute inflammation but exacerbating disease progression in chronic conditions such as atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The lab aims to study the molecular mechanisms driving these divergent effects, thereby advancing our understanding of SAA’s complex role in inflammation.

 [OAJ1]Here as well (see comment below)

Brian S. Finlin, PhD, is an assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of endocrinology. He is interested in how adipose tissue becomes dysfunctional in the context of obesity and in turn, impairs glucose and lipid homeostasis. Further, he is interested in possible therapeutic interventions. 

Dr. Finlin’s current research, in collaboration with Dr. Kern, involves the b3 adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron, which has shown to improve glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and b cell function in humans. Dr. Finlin and Dr. Kern are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs, focusing on adipose tissue. They have identified several beneficial effects on adipose tissue and are in the process of identifying how these lead to the systemic effects described above.

Nate Helsley, PhD, is an assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of endocrinology. The Helsley Lablab investigates mechanisms by which fatty acid metabolism contributes to sexually dimorphic cardiometabolic disease and cancer phenotypes. The lab utilizes a combination of animal models, high throughput sequencing, and molecular approaches to probe these underlying mechanisms. 

Ila Mishra, PhD, is an assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of endocrinology. The Mishra lab investigates the cardiometabolic effects of asprosin, a newly discovered protein hormone. By combining advanced molecular biology, neuroscience, and mouse behavior and physiology studies, the Mishra lab research focuses on three core areas: uncovering novel neural roles of asprosin, developing breakthrough therapies to target it, and elucidating its cell signaling pathways. 

Recent work by Dr. Mishra has uncovered asprosin’s role in thirst regulation, identified its neural receptor for thirst and appetite stimulation, and developed monoclonal antibodies and receptor trap as therapeutics inhibiting asprosin function.