Metabolic disease research includes the mechanisms of insulin & growth hormone action.

For example, diabetes is a complex metabolic derangement characterized by increased blood glucose concentrations and an absolute or relative decrease in insulin, typically combined with tissue insulin resistance.  Student projects include studies on insulin signaling and gene expression in diabetes and in multiple other insulin resistant states associated with diseases such as cardiovascular disease, trauma, and infections.

• UAB Center for Metabolic Bone Disease
• Diabetes Research and Education Center
• UAB Dept. of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism
  
  
• Facts about Diabetes
• Statistics about Diabetes
• Diabetes and Heart Disease
• Overview of Clinical Complications of Diabetes
• Insulin Resistance Syndrome
• Treatment and Management for Diabetes
• Insulin Replacement Therapy
• UAB's Dennis Pillion Cited by National Diabetes Educators
• Study Targets Women with Diabetes

Molecular & Cellular Pathology
Metabolic Disease Research Faculty

Hardy, Robert, Ph.D.

Research Focus: Insulin resistance; cancer cell proliferation

Select Highlights and Articles:

• Long-chain Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Annexin II Translocation to Detergent-Resistant Membranes
• Overestimation of HDL-cholesterol Using a Homogeneous "Direct" Assay
• Utilization, Reliability, and Clinical Impact of Point-of-Care Testing During Critical Care Transport: Six Years of Experience
• Energy Restriction Reduces Long-Chain Saturated Fatty Acids Associated with Plasma Lipids in Aging Male Rats
• Comparison of Non-diglyceride and Diglyceride-based Assays for Pancreatic Lipase Activity

Messina, Joseph, Ph.D.

Research Focus: Insulin and growth hormone action and resistance in trauma and infections

Select Highlights and Articles:

• Insulin Enhances Growth Hormone Induction of the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway
• Gene 33 Inhibits Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells and Increases Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase Expression
• Prolonged Insulin Treatment Inhibits GH Signaling Via STAT3 and STAT1
• Blockade of Rapid Versus Prolonged Extracellularly Regulated Kinase 1/2 Activation Has Differential Effects on Insulin-Induced Gene Expression
• Mechanism of Cardiac Depression after Trauma-Hemorrhage: Increased Cardiomyocyte IL-6 and Effect of Sex Steroids on IL-6 Regulation and Cardiac Function