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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine

Elmendorf Lab

The research lab of Jeffrey Elmendorf dissects mechanisms of insulin action that regulate glucose uptake by fat and muscle cells, and defines defects contributing to insulin resistance associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Active Research

The Elmendorf Lab dissects mechanisms of insulin action that regulate glucose uptake by fat and muscle cells, and defines defects contributing to insulin resistance associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.  Cell, animal, and human data from the lab suggest that plasma membrane cholesterol accumulation in these cells negatively impinges on cytoskeletal and membrane structure essential for glucose transporter GLUT4 regulation by insulin. Ongoing studies are asking novel questions about cellular cholesterol accumulation and GLUT4 dysregulation, what mechanisms are involved, and the impact of targeting this toxicity on preventing and/or improving insulin resistance.

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Research Funding

7-14-BS-053 (Elmendorf, PI), 01/01/15-12/31/17

“Mechanisms of Membrane Cholesterol Accumulation and Insulin Resistance”

The goal of this grant is to determine mechanisms of membrane cholesterol accumulation and glucose transporter 4 dysregulation in skeletal muscle.

Role: PI

R01HL117620 (Tune, PI) , 02/01/13-01/31/18

“Cardiovascular Effects of GLP-1 in Obesity/Metabolic Syndrome”

The main goal of our investigations on this grant is to determine the effects of GLP-1 on cardiac glucose and lipid transporters in obesity/metabolic syndrome.

Role: Co-I

P30DK097512 (Mirmira, PI), 04/01/15-03/31/20

“Indiana Diabetes Research Center”

This center grant establishes Research Cores, Pilot & Feasibility funding, and Enrichment activities in support of diabetes and metabolic research at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Role: Director of Pilot & Feasibility Program

Indiana Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute Predoctoral Award (Gohn, PI), 07/01/15-06/30/17

“MEOX2 Regulation of Fetal Endothelial Colony Forming Cell Senescence”

The main goal of this predoctoral fellowship is to establish Mesenchymal Homeobox 2 (MEOX2) as a biomarker to identify children most at risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Role: Co-Mentor

Recent Publications

A full list of Elmendorf’s publication history is available on PubMed.

Han X, Quinney SK, Wang Z, Zhang P, Duke J, Desta Z, Elmendorf JS, Flockhart DA and Li L. Identification and Mechanistic Investigation of Drug-Drug Interactions Associated With Myopathy: A Translational Approach. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2015;98:321-7

Tunduguru R, Chiu TT, Ramalingam L, Elmendorf JS, Klip A and Thurmond DC. Signaling of the p21-activated kinase (PAK1) coordinates insulin-stimulated actin remodeling and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2014;92:380-8.

Faculty Research Team

13333-Elmendorf, Jeffrey

Jeffrey S. Elmendorf, PhD

Associate Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology

Read Bio

Additional Research Team Members

Other research team members in the Elmendorf Lab include Brian A. Grice, Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellow, and Lixuan Tackett, MS, Technician.