History of successful applicaitions

2019

​Junior Faculty Development Award winner: 

  • Amit R. Majithia, MD, UCSD, for the proposal “Combining experiments of man and nature to target human insulin resistance.”

​​P&F awardees:

  • Dhruv Sareen, PhD, CEDARS-SINAI, for the proposal “Functional Human iPSC-Derived Pancreatic Islets in Co-culture with Isogenic Vascular endothelial Cells.”
  • Chen Gao, Ph.D, UCLA, for the proposal “Branched-Chain Amino Acids Catabolism in Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance: Mechanism and Therapy.”
  • Lisa Kohn, MD, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal “Epigenetics’ Role in Autoimmune Outcomes.”
  • Stephen D. Lee, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Central Control of Metabolism by Neuronal Very-Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor.”
  • Jeremy Pettus MD, UCSD for the proposal “The Metabolic Effects of Disrupted Glucagon Signaling in Type 1 Diabetes.”


2018

Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Timothy O’Sullivan, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal “Determining the contribution of adipose-resident dendritic cells to obesity-associated inflammation and insulin resistance”. 

​P&F awardees:

  • ​Celine Riera, PhD, Cedars-Sinai, for the proposal “Nociceptor sensory neurons modulate immune responses inobesity and diabetes to control metabolism". 
  • Ty D. Troutman,PhD, UCSD, for the proposal “Comparative assessment of human and mouse hepatic myeloid cell diversity during nonalcoholic fatty liver disease”. 
  • ​Jeramie Watrous, PhD, UCSD,  “Microbial contributions to the development of human type 2 diabetes mellitus”. 
  • Stephanie Correa, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal “Bypassing estrogen to manipulate a neural circuit that controls body weight”. 
  • ​Zhenqi Zhou, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal “The impact of dynamin-related protein (Drp)1 on muscle metabolism and insulin action”. 


2017

​Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Wenxian Fu,PhD, UCSD, for the proposal “Role of interleukin 2 receptor signaling in type 1 diabetes.”

P&F awardees:

  • Steven Bensinger, VMD, PhD UCLA, for the proposal “Determining the impact of SREBP signaling in macrophages on type I IFN-mediated inflammation and diabetes.”
  • Wei Ying, PhD , UCSD, and LIAI, for the proposal “Adipose tissue macrophages secrete exosomal miRNAs as paracrine molecules to directly modulate insulin target cell function in response to obesity.”
  • ​Marc Liesa-Roig,PhD, UCLA, for the proposal “A novel mitochondrial target determining hepatic insulin sensitivity in the obese.”
  • ​Jorge F. Giani, PhD, CEDARS-SINAI, for the proposal "The role of ACE on interleukin-1 beta production by renal tubular epithelial cells.”
  • ​Ju Youn Kim, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "New Role of Caspase 2 in SREBP activation and de novo Lipid Synthesis via S1P cleavage.”
  • Phillip Gordts, PhD, UCSD for the proposal “Genetic Analysis of adipocyte‐associated Proteoglycans in type-2 diabetes and obesity.


2016

​Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Kyle J. Gaulton, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Risk Variants on Transcriptional Regulation During Pancreatic Development". Partnered with UCSD Dean's Research Award.

​P&F awardees:

  • Shannon M. Reilly, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "An Il-6/Stat3 Autocrine Axis in Adipose Tissue".
  • Stephanie Stanford, PhD, UCSD and LIAI, for the proposal "Elucidating the Role of LMPTP in Adipogenesis".
  • Li Zhang, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Novel Ubiquitination Pathways in Lipid Homeostasis".
  • Alexander Kauffman, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Role of Kisspeptin Signaling in Adiposity and Glucose Homeostasis".
  • Kellie Breen, PhD, and David Natale, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Glucocorticoid Disruption of Placental Junctional Zone Endocrine Function and the Downstream Prenatal Programming of Metabolic Syndrome".
  • Cathryn Kolka, PhD, CEDARS-SINAI, for the proposal "Energy Expenditure in Skeletal Muscle". Partnered with the Cedars-Sinai Dean's Reearch Award.


2015

​​Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • ​Jonathan Wanagat, MD, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Determining the effects of muscle mitochondrial DNA copy number and quality control in insulin sensitivity".

​P&F awardees:

  • ​Timo Rieg, MD, UCSD, for the proposal "Role of leptin in the regulation of intestinal sodium glucose co-transporter 1". Partnered with UCSD Dean's Research Award.
  • ​Joseph Cantor, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "CD98hc in pancreatic islet allograft rejection". Partnered with UCSD CTRI Research Award.
  • Thomas Hnasko, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Role of brain triglycerides sensing in rewrd: Why does fat taste so good?". Partnered with the UCSD Dean's Research Award.
  • Elizabeth Tarling, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis by the ubiquitin ligase RNF130". Partnered with UCLA CTSI.
  • ​Run Yu, PhD, CEDARS-SINAI, for the proposal "Regulation of pacratic alpha cell mass by glucagon signaling". Partnered with Cedars-Sinai Dean's Research Award.
  • Anne Beigneux, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Molecular Mechanisms underlying LPL physiology".


2014

Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • ​Thomas Vallim, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Identifying a Role for FXR-MAFG in Bile Acid and Glucose Homeostasis". Partnered with UCLA CTSI.
  • Ji Zhang, PhD, UCSD, for his project "Identify a Novel Regulator of Adipose Tissue and Insulin Resistance". Declined

​P&F awardees:

  • Simon Schenk, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Regulation of Muscle Insulin Action, the Acetylome and Gene Transcription by GCN5". Partnered with UCSD Dean's Research Award.
  • Cynthia Hong, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Adipose Cholesteron Metabolism and Type 2 Diabetes".
  • Wenxian Fu, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Identifying the Initiating Factors in Type 1 Diabetes by Disclosing the Crosstalk among Islet Vascular Inflammation, Immune Responses and Beta Cell Death". Partnered with UCSD CTRI and UCSD Dean's Research Award.
  • Olivia Osborn, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Identification of hypothalamic targets for the prevention of relapse to obesity after weight loss".
  • Simon Hui, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Regulation of Insulin Sensitivity by Acad11".


2013

​Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Yun Sok Lee, PhD, UCSD, for his project "Fractalkine in Type II Diabetes".

P&F awardees:

  • ​Ruchi Mathur, MD, Cedars-Sinai, for the proposal "Small Intestinal M. smithii Colonization and Cardiometabolic Genes in the Pathophysiology of Diabetes". Partnered with Cedars-Sinai Clinical Scholars Award.
  • Sangeeta Dhawan, PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Identification and targeting of small molecules for promoting beta cell regeneration". Partnered with UCLA CTSI.
  • Christian Metallo, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Targeting the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier to reprogram central carbon metabolism".
  • Da Young Oh, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Characterization of distinct subpopulations of hepatic macrophages in the context of diet induced obesity and insulin resistance". Partnered with UCSD Dean's Research Award.
  • ​Satchinananda Panda, PhD, The Salk Institute, for the proposal "Time-restricted feeding as a viable lifestyle intervention to reduce body weight and improve metabolism".
  • Neal K. Davaraj, PhD, UCSD, for the proposal "Amplifying PET Imaging Signals for In Vivo Detection of Pancreatic Beta-cells". Partnered with UCSD CTRI.


2012

Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Jane J. Kim, MD, UCSD, for her project "The Epigenome in Obesity and Insulin Resistance

​P&F awardees:

  • ​Robyn Cunard, MD, UCSD, for her proposal "Novel Regulators of Podocyte Function in Diabetes".
  • ​Ming Guo, MD/PhD, UCLA, for the proposal "Identifying Disease State Suppressors in a Drosophila Model of Type 2 Diabetes".
  • ​Djurdjica Coss, PhD, UCSD, for the study asking "Does Maternal Obesity Alter Inflammatory Cytokines in the Hypothalamus and Pituitary and Predispose Offspring to Reproductive Pathologies?".


2011

Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • ​Lily C. Chao, MD, UCLA, for her project studying NUR77 as a Novel Regulator of Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Function.

P&F awardees:

 

  • Simon Schenk, PhD, UCSD, for his proposal to study Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Insulin Action and Gene Transcription by SIRT1.
  • Olivai Osborn, PhD, UCSD, for studying the effects of Deletion of G Protein Coupled Receptor 21 (GPR21) in Mice on Insulin Sensitivity.
  • EekJoong Park, PhD, UCSD, in studying NOD2 prevention of TLR4-mediated Insulin Resistance and Liver Steatosis; a new mechanistic link between TLR4-NOD2-mTOR.



2010

​Inaugural Junior Faculty Development Award winner:

  • Da Young Oh, PhD, UCSD, for her project studying GPR120 as an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Receptor Mediating Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Insulin Sensitizing Effects.

​P&F awardees:

  • ​Ning-Ai Liu, MD, PhD, Cedars-Sinai-UCLA, for her proposal to study Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in zebrafish.
  • Renata Pereira, PhD, UCLA, for studying the role of FGF-23 in skeletal mineralization.
  • Daniel DeUgarte, MD, from UCLA, to investigate the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Metabolic Phenotype, Gene Expression, and Epigenome.
  • Alexander Sasha Kauffman, PhD, UCSD, for investigating Neural Circuits Regulating and Timing Puberty in Normal and Overweight Mice.
  • Jane Kim, MD, UCSD, for her work on Sialic Acids in Obesity and Metabolism.
  • WuQiang Fan, MD, PhD, UCSD, for a project to study FOXO1 and Insulin resistance.


2009

  • Mina Desai, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
    • Development of Insulin Resistance and Adiposity via PPAR Dysregulation
  • Anthony Heany, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Co-Director, Pituitary & Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, Departments of Medicine & Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai
    • Role of GLUT5 in Pathogenesis of Metabolic Syndrome
  • Karen Herbst, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
    • Blockade of Receptor Cleavage in Diabetes Mellitus with an MMP Inhibitor
  • Andrea Hevener, Assistant Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
    • The Impact of Myeloid-Specific ERα Expression on Inflammation, Insulin Action and Adiposity

    • ARRA FUNDING Doubled Our P&F Awards for 2009 and for 2010!

  • Gregory Harmon, Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, UCSD
    • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Ameliorates the Phenotype of Cystic Fibrosis

     

  • Michael Downes, Senior Staff Scientist, Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, La Jolla
    • Deciphering Nuclear Receptor Regulation of Diabetes via Promoter Ontology analysis

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  • Jamie Powers, Clinical Instructor, Mattel Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA
    • Effects of Hyperglycemia on Adrenal Cortex Function and Steroidogenesis

    •  

  • Senta Giorgia, Assistant Adjunct Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
    • Using Comparative Methylation and Gene Expression Analysis to Understand Age-Restricted Beta Cell Replication in Response to Insulin Resistance

2008

  • Laura Cobb, PhD, UCLA Pediatrics Endocrinology, Assistant Professor SHLPs: a novel family of peptides regulating glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity
  • Aleksey Matveyenko, PhD, UCLA Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Elucidation of Mechanism(s) by Which Circadian Rhythm Disturbances Increase the Risk for Development of Type 2 diabetes
  • Varykina Thackray, PhD, UCSD Reproductive Medicine, Assistant Professor The Role of the Forkhead Transcription Factor, FoxO1 in the Pituitary Gonadotrope: A Link Between Metabolism and Fertility?
  • Robyn Cunard, MD, UCSD Nephrology, Assistant Professor Podocyte TRB3 in Diabetic Nephropathy

2007

  • Anthony Heaney, MD, PhD, UCLA Endocrinology, Associate Professor Fructose & ES Beta Cells
  • Kuk-Wha Lee, MD, PhD, UCLA Pediatrics, Assistant Professor Humanin Prevention T1DM
  • Shou Lin, PhD, UCLA MCDB, Professor Zebrafish Pancreas Development
  • Dorothy Sears, PhD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Osteopontin & IR
  • Run Yu, MD, PhD Cedars Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Beta Cell Securin & CDKI

2006

  • Steven Chessler, MD, PhD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Neurexin and Beta Cells
  • Seth Field, MD, PhD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Phospho-Inositol Regulation by Insulin & IGF
  • Chris Hupfeld, MD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Insulin Receptor & Arrestin Interaction
  • Katrina Dipple, MD, PhD UCLA Genetics, Assistant Professor GKD in Insulin Resistance
  • Pam Itkin-Ansari, PhD, UCSD Pediatrics, Assistant Prof Beta Cell Differentiation

2005

  • Anil Bhushan, PhD, UCLA Islet Center, Assistant Professor p27 and Beta Cells
  • Mark Goodarzi, MD, PhD, CSMC Medicine, Assistant Professor AMPD1 and Insulin
  • Harley Kornblum, MD, PhD, UCLA Neurology, Associate Professor Hormones & Neural Stem Cells
  • Susan Phillips, MD, UCSD Pediatrics, Assistant Professor Muscle-Fat Cross Talk in DM

2004

  • Ulupi Jhala, PhD, UCSD Pediatrics, Assistant Research Scientist MLK3 in Pancreatic Beta Cell Death
  • Kuk-Wha Lee, MD, PhD, UCLA Pediatrics, Clinical Instructor IGFBP-3 and Insulin Resistance
  • Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD, UCLA Nutrition, Assistant Professor Diet IR, hsCRP and IGF-I/IGFBP-1
  • Andrea Hevener, PhD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor PPAR Knock-Out and Insulin Resistance

2003

  • Nai-Wen Chi, MD, PhD, UCSD Endocrinology, Assistant Professor Angiotensin-4 in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
  • Mark Lawson, PhD, UCSD Reproductive Medicine, Assistant Professor Insulin & GnRH signaling
  • Susanne Nicholas, MD PhD, UCLA Medicine, Assistant Professor Diabetic Nephropathy Genes