11^th Diabetologists Conference & Drug Market Summit

Biography

Dr. Pessin’s research in Diabetes and insulin action has centered on the molecular analysis of liver insulin resistance resulting in increased gluconeogenesis driving hyperglycemia and de novo lipogenesis driving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These efforts focus on intracellular insulin signaling cascades and the control of gluconeogenic and lipogenic gene expression. In parallel, studies on adipocyte biology focus on adipose tissue inflammation and the regulation of the NF-kB signaling pathway. These efforts utilize state-of-the-art cell and molecular biological approaches that include genetic mouse models (knockout, knockin and transgenic expression) in addition to integrative physiology of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. These studies are providing important new information for our understanding of the molecular events causing altered metabolism and the basis for more effective treatments of diabetes, obesity and metabolic dysregulation. He as published over 275 peer-reviewed research studies and book chapters/reviews. Dr. Pessin received his B.A./MA. degrees from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois. He then was a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Michael Czech at The University of Massachusetts Medical Center and was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Physiology & Biophysics at The University of Iowa in 1983. Dr. Pessin was promoted to Associate Professor (1988) and Professor (1991). He was also appointed as the Associate Director of The University of Iowa Diabetes Center in 1991 and received the Eli Lilly Outstanding Investigator Award from the American Diabetes Association in 1996 and The University of Iowa Foundation Distinguished Professorship in 2001. In 2003, he became the Chair of the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at Stony Brook University where he received the William and Jane Knapp Professorial Chair of Pharmacological Sciences. Dr. Pessin accepted his current position as Diabetes Center Director and the Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg Professorial Chair in Diabetes Research at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2008. As a well-established and internationally recognized research scientist, Dr. Pessin has served on numerous scientific review panels, research boards and program development committees. He has also been an active in the management in the peer-review process serving as the past Editor-in-Chief for Endocrinology and the American Journal of Physiology (Endocrinology & Metabolism), Senior Associated Editor for Diabetes and currently Associate Editor for the Journal of Biological Chemistry. His wealth of experience in diabetes research and administration will continue the tradition of strong leadership as the Director of The Albert Einstein College Diabetes Center.

Research Interest

Diabetes and Insulin action