DEPARTMENT OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

The Co- Principal Investigator

Timothy J. Lyons, MD, FRCP

           The Co-Principal Investigator of the CoBRE is Timothy J. Lyons, MD, FRCP.  Dr. Lyons is a physician scientist who fulfils a number of roles at OUHSC.  He is Warren Chair of Diabetes Studies, Professor and Chief, Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Program Director of the GCRC, and Director, Oklahoma Diabetes Center.  Dr. Lyons is a diabetologist/endocrinologist with extensive experience in diabetes research.  His interests are in the vascular complications of diabetes, and specifically, in the role of oxidation, glycation, glycoxidation, and lipoxidation in the promotion of micro- and macro-vascular damage.  He has conducted numerous studies on the roles of these stresses using human, animal and cell culture models. 

            Recent work has addressed the roles of specific advanced glycation end-products (AGE products) and oxidation products in insoluble collagen as long-term markers of stresses leading to complications.  Other studies address the role of modified (i.e. oxidized and/or glycated) LDL in diabetic retinopathy.  Some of his work has a large clinical component: he has been involved in DCCT/EDIC since its inception, and has served as Co-PI and Project Leader on an NIH-funded Program Project that has been collaborative with DCCT/EDIC since 1996.  He has recently completed the clinical phase of a large, prospective study of over 150 pregnancies in women with Type 1 diabetes, addressing markers and mechanisms of pre-eclampsia.  He also has administrative responsibility as a clinical researcher.  He recently served as Chair of the ADA’s Grant Review Committee. 

            His work as GCRC Program Director since 2004, during which time the GCRC’s funding was successfully renewed, has brought further breadth of experience.  The OUHSC GCRC is unique in the nation in having a Special Populations Unit to promote research partnerships with the Native American communities in Oklahoma, and Dr. Lyons has worked actively to expand studies with these communities.  Dr. Lyons’ clinical research skills are highly complementary to the basic science skills of Dr. Ma.  Drs. Lyons and Ma have worked closely together over the past three years to establish the Diabetes Research Program of the Oklahoma Diabetes Center.