Scientist Spotlight 1 - Diabetes Unit (Palladini)

Choose 1 of the following professional Scientists  to research.  Directions for completing the assignment and a grading rubric can be found in the Scientist Spotlight Overview.  Review the instructions and grading rubric before submitting your spotlight.

Choice 1: Dr. Marie M Daly

Dr. Daly's research spans both chemistry and biology in a field known as biochemistry.  Most well known for her work on cholestorerol and atherosclerosis, Dr. Daly also researched the contribution of the pancreas to the digestive process and the assembly of proteins within cells. 

• Science History Institute Profile Links to an external site.
• NYAS Historical Edition: Marie Maynard Daly Links to an external site.
• Black History Month Spotlight, video Links to an external site.
• Marie Maynard Daly: Unsung Heroes of Science 2020, video Links to an external site.

Choice 2: Dr. Andrew T Chan

Dr. Chan is a medical doctor and researcher at Harvard Medical School. His research focus is on chronic diseases, including diabetes, and translating scientific discoveries into effective clinical interventions. Part of this work explores links between the oral and gut microbiome Links to an external site. and chronic disease.

• Dr. Chan's Harvard profile page Links to an external site.
• NY Times Article: How the Right Foods May Lead to a Healthier Gut, and Better Health Links to an external site.
• Harvard Gazette: Plant-based diet may feed key gut microbes Links to an external site.
• Dr. Chan's Twitter Links to an external site.

Choice 3: Dr. Marcelo Mori

Dr. Mori is a scientist leading the Laboratory of Aging Biology (LaBE) at the University of Campinas, Brazil.  While his research focus is aging and metabolism, some of his research has applications for chronic disease like diabetes and he is also exploring links between COVID-19 and diabetes.

• Dr. Mori's labpage Links to an external site., originally in Spanish, can be translated to English by clicking on the USA flag on top left
• Medical News Today: Study reveals how exercise improves metabolic health Links to an external site.
• Researchers discover mechanism that makes COVID-19 more severe in diabetics Links to an external site.
• Dr. Mori's Twitter Links to an external site.

Choice 4: Dr. Kate White

Dr. White is a research professor at the University of Southern California. She researches the structure and function of proteins, organelles, and cells and how disease can disrupt these functions.  One protein she has studied is insulin.

• Faculty page at USC Links to an external site.
• To better understand diabetes, scientists gaze inside insulin-producing pancreatic cells Links to an external site.
• Scientists Launch Global Effort to Find the Next Diabetes Drug Links to an external site.
• Future of Biophysics Symposium Links to an external site., 5-minute video

Choice 5: Lorena Melendez-Chavez

Lorena Melendez-Chaves is an undergraduate researcher focusing on Nutrition and Dietetics, California State University Northridge. She studies diabetes in Latino communities.  She is interested in  nutrigenomics, “the relationship between nutrients, diet, and gene expression” the greater Los Angeles Latino community.

• Profile from ScientistSpotlight.org Links to an external site..  You need an account to access, but I've pasted it here for you: Growing up with an insight in food intake and exercise, Lorena decided to work and study nutrition and dietetics at California State University, Northridge. With a passion and interest in researching diabetes in Latino communities, she met her advisor and mentor Nelida Duran. They both pursued a project studying nutrigenomics, “the relationship between nutrients, diet, and gene expression” with these communities in Los Angeles. 
• Young immigrant works to eradicate diabetes, health gaps in her Latino community Links to an external site.
• Nutrigenomics. The basics  Links to an external site.
• EmPOWERED to Serve Scholars, short video Links to an external site.