April 2024

ENDOCRINOLOGY

NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE’S CHELSEA HEPLER RECEIVES 2024 PATHWAY TO STOP DIABETES GRANT

Chelsea Hepler, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine’s Bass Lab, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Pathway to Stop Diabetes grant by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This highly coveted grant, totaling $1,625,000, recognizes Hepler’s outstanding contributions to diabetes research and her unwavering commitment to unraveling the mysteries of this complex disease.

The Pathway to Stop Diabetes program is more than just funding; it’s a beacon of hope for early-career scientists. The talented researchers receiving the Pathway to Stop Diabetes recognition demonstrate exceptional innovation, creativity, and productivity, and receive five to seven years of funding to explore groundbreaking ideas without traditional project constraints. Additionally, they benefit from mentorship provided by world-renowned diabetes scientists throughout their grant.

Hepler’s research project, titled “Integration of Circadian and Inflammatory Pathways in Metabolic Homeostasis”, promises to shed light on the intricate interplay between circadian rhythms and inflammation in diabetes and obesity. By delving deeper into emerging evidence that circadian disruption plays a significant role in metabolic disease, Hepler aims to uncover new therapeutic avenues. Her work has the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by diabetes.

Hepler expressed her gratitude: “I am incredibly honored to receive this award and join the community of ADA scientists dedicated to combating diabetes. The support from this program will allow me to investigate the interplay between circadian rhythms and inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetes and obesity, which may uncover new avenues for therapeutic interventions.”

Over the past decade, alarming health statistics have captured widespread public attention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three children born in the year 2000 in the United States will develop diabetes. Additionally, the CDC estimates that one-third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese. While physical activity and nutrition play crucial roles in addressing this epidemic, recent clinical and experimental research has highlighted the impact of circadian system disruption and sleep on obesity and diabetes. The internal circadian system acts as an integrator of information, enabling individuals to optimize the timing of internal processes. The primary research focus in the Bass Lab is to gain a better understanding of clock processes that will lead to innovative therapeutics for a spectrum of diseases, including diabetes.

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