MENTORS

Each PJI has been assigned one or two senior diabetes researchers with expertise relevant to the PJI’s project.  Each mentor has undertaken to meet weekly with the PJI to assist in project design, planning experiments and writing manuscripts and funding proposals. The following mentors were chosen based on their research track record, mentoring experience and expertise in the PJI’s research areas.

Morris Foster, Ph.D., Professor and Acting Chair, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK:  Dr. Foster has conducted population studies of Native Americans for many years, with a particular emphasis on involving tribal communities in the design, planning, and oversight of biomedical research. He has a long track record in mentoring investigators. His expertise in Native American populations and his existing collaboration with Indian Tribes are resources for PJI Diane Warren’s project, which is to study the genetic factors in diabetes in Native Americans.

Ming-Hui Zou, M.D., Ph.D., Travis Professor, Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Dept. of Medicine, OUHSC: Dr. Zou is a well published and well funded investigator in diabetic complications, especially in oxidation and nitration. He has been serving in NIH study sections and is experienced in mentoring postdoctoral fellows and junior investigators. His extensive experience in oxidation and AMPK will provide great support and advice for PJI Zhonglin Xie’s project.

Kenneth C. Copeland, M.D., Jonas Chair, Professor and Chief, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, Dept. of Pediatrics, OUHSC:  Dr. Copeland is an experienced clinician researcher with an interest in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children, growth, growth factors, obesity, and maternal effects on childhood disease.  During his 6 years at OUHSC, he has established extensive partnerships with Native American Tribes, both in the provision of clinical services and in clinical research.  He is a center PI in the NIH TODAY (Treatment Options in Diabetes among Adolescents and Youth), and Director of the Childrens’ Metabolic Research Center.   He will serve as a mentor for PJI Kevin Short.

Andy Gardner, Ph.D. Hobbs-Recknegel Chair and Professor, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, Dept. of Pediatrics, OUHSC:  Dr. Gardner is an accomplished and very well-funded researcher whose focus is on the effects of exercise on vascular function.  His studies involve human-based clinical research conducted at the GCRC, and are highly pertinent to the study of abnormal vascular function in patients with diabetes, insulin resistance, and peripheral vascular disease, common conditions among minority populations.  Dr.Gardner will also serve as a mentor for PJI Kevin Short.

Luke Szweda, Ph.D., Associate Member, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, is expert in studying oxidative damage in diabetes, specifically in mitochondrial function. He is also studying ubiquitin and the proteasome, and will mentor PJI Scott Plafker.

John Mulvihill, M.D., Kimberly V. Talley/CMRI Chair of Genetics, Professor of Pediatrics, is Associate Program Director of the OUHSC GCRC.  He is a distinguished geneticist and clinical scientist who founded the Department of Genetics in the Graduate School of Public Health, Univ. of Pittsburgh, and has served as President of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society.  He will mentor PJI Diane Warren.

Timothy J. Lyons, M.D., F.R.C.P., Warren Chair of Diabetes Studies, Professor and Chief, Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Director Oklahoma Diabetes Center, and Program Director, GCRC, OUHSC: Dr. Lyons will serve as the co-PI of this project and mentor of PJI Sarah Zhang, because of his extensive experience in diabetic retinopathy (see above).

Jian-xing Ma, M.D., Ph.D., Laureate Professor and Director of Research, Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Dept. of Medicine, OUHSC: Dr. Ma will also serve as a mentor for PJI Sarah Zhang. For his qualifications, please see description of PI above.

Existing Collaborations among PJIs and Mentors

Kevin Short (PJI) is a new recruit to OUHSC. After he joined OUHSC two months ago, however, he has established collaboration with Andrew Gardner (mentor) in studying the impact of exercise on diabetes and its complications. He interacts closely with Dr. Lyons in his use of GCRC facilities.

Zhonglin Xie (PJI) is collaborating with Sarah Zhang (PJI) in studying the PEDF effect on protein nitration in diabetic retinas. He is also collaborating with Ming-Hui Zou (mentor) and Luke Szweda (mentor) in studying oxidation and mitochondrial functions in diabetic animal models.

Diane Warren (PJI), another new recruit to OU, is working with Morris Foster (mentor) to study genetic factors in diabetes in Native Americans. She is also working with John Mulvihill (mentor) in genetic analysis of human samples.

Sarah Zhang (PJI) is collaborating with Scott Plafker in elucidation of mechanisms responsible for the decreased PEDF levels in the diabetic retina and kidney. She has also existing collaboration with Dr. Jian-xing Ma (mentor) in studying the mechanism for the anti-angiogenic activity of PEDF in diabetic animal models. She is collaborating with Tim Lyons (mentor) and John Baynes (EAC member) in studying effects of PEDF against retinal vascular damage induced by oxidized LDL.

Scott Plafker (PJI) has been collaborating with Hanna Abboud (EAC member) in studying the roles of AT-II and the ubiquitin system in diabetic nephropathy. He is also working with Sarah Zhang (PJI) in elucidating the role of ubiquitin in PEDF degradation.