Michael Jurczak, PhD

Conceptual Schematic

THE THREE MOST SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS THAT DEFINE YOUR RESEARCH PROGRAM:
What defines the mitochondrial dysfunction commonly associated with hepatic insulin resistance and do mitochondrial-based signals contribute to insulin resistance?

Do inadequate or compromised mitochondrial repair mechanisms contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction commonly associated with hepatic insulin resistance?

Can metabolic efficiency be targeted to treat obesity and the metabolic syndrome, particularly insulin resistance?

FIVE KEYWORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST:
Metabolism,
Insulin resistance,
Mitochondria/mitophagy,
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,
Intestinal lipid absorption

TECHNIQUES, MODELS, METHODS, ANALYTIC APPROACHES, ETC:
Isotope tracers (stable and radioactive).
In vivo and ex vivo metabolic flux.
Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity.
Metabolic phenotyping of transgenic mice.
Mouse models: Tissue-specific Park2 KO (liver, skeletal muscle, small intestine and whole-body); Atpif1 KO and floxed.