Awarded in 2011
Home Department: Neurosciences/MSTP
Faculty Advisors: Seung Kim (Developmental Biology) and Tom Clandinin (Neurobiology)

Research Title: Decretin signaling suppresses insulin production and secretion

Research Description: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease defined clinically by increased blood glucose levels resulting from decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity or impaired insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. While diabetes mellitus is historically one of the oldest diseases, the complex genetics underlying the most prevalent form, type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are only beginning to be elucidated. Ron’s work is directed at harnessing the powerful genetics of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to study the genetics of diabetic states. To this end, he is drawing on approaches from neuroscience and bioengineering to study metabolism and glucose homeostasis in the fly.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Ron is the CEO and co-founder of Noetik, an AI-native biotechnology company. Their mission is to leverage advanced machine learning methods to discover and develop cancer immunotherapies.