Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine Faculty Research Interests

Andrea Dunaif, MD
Professor and Division Chief

Specialized Centers of Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women’s Health. Title: “Genes, androgens, and intrauterine environment in PCOS”

 

Associate Professor                                         

 

Role of estrogen receptors in human pancreatic islet survival and functionality

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  09/01/06 - 08/31/09                                              

The major goal of this application is to study the role of estrogen receptors in protecting human islet survival and improves transplantation outcome in mouse models of type 1 diabetes.

 

Role of estrogen receptors in pancreatic beta-cell survival and insulin secretion

National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 04/01/07 – 03-31/12

The major goal of this application is to demonstrate that estrogen receptors preserve pancreatic beta-cell survival and favor insulin secretion and to determine the molecular bases of these actions

 

Role of the estrogen receptor-alpha in birth defects predisposing to obesity and diabetes in children

March of Dimes Foundation 06/01/07 - 05/31/10

The major goal of this application is to study the extent to which genetic alteration in the ER alpha cause birth defects to predisposing to childhood obesity and diabetes

 

Role of androgen excess in provoking oxidative stress in females (Project 3)

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 09/01/07 – 08/31/12

The major goal of this project is to study the role of excess post-natal testosterone in provoking obesity and type 2 diabetes.

 

 

Assistant Professor

 

Dr. Neff’s research currently focuses on identifying effective interventions for obesity and related metabolic derangements, including insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. She is the Principal Investigator of a randomized feeding study exploring the effects of different dietary patterns (including the DASH diet and a low glycemic index diet) on metabolic syndrome.  Preliminary results suggest that significant improvements in insulin resistance, inflammation, and other metabolic derangements can be achieved through dietary changes, even when body weight remains the same.  Dr. Neff has also directed a study investigating how behavioral, psychological, and metabolic factors influence individuals' ability to maintain weight loss over time.  Additional research interests include the role of core body temperature in the development of obesity.