Research
Our faculty work with patients involved in clinical trials related to diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism. Find clinical trials by principal investigator listed below.
Learn how you can participate in UNMC clinical trials.Faculty Research Interests
Laura Armas, MD
Dr. Armas has a research interest in calcium and vitamin D and is currently working on an NIH-funded grant in collaboration with Creighton focusing on the effects of T1DM on bone in postmenopausal women.
Robert G. Bennett, PhD
Relaxin in adipose function and fibrosis Targeted treatment of the liver-adipose axis in metabolic diseases
Brian Boerner, MD
Inpatient management of hyperglycemia in transplant recipients Medical Education
Cyrus V. Desouza, MBBS
Dr. Desouza works in cardiovascular disease outcomes research in diabetes, focusing on why people with diabetes have heart attacks and strokes and how can they be treated. He is principal investigator of numerous UNM clinical trials. He also conducts research into how to improve diabetes care and diabetes outcomes in settings such as the VA system, rural areas and others.
Andjela Drincic, MD
Type 1 diabetes and neurosciences Pituitary including (growth hormone, Cushing’s, acromegaly)
Leslie Eiland, MD
Dr. Eiland's primary research interests involve telehealth and diabetes technology. She has shown successful outcomes regarding management of people with type 1 diabetes seen in rural telehealth clinics. Current projects involve analyzing access to care and telehealth utilization for people during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as understanding people’s experiences and preferences around different types of telehealth visits.
Whitney S. Goldner, MD
Dr. Goldner conducts clinical research on thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. She has an interest in molecular testing of thyroid nodules, as well as thyroid cancer treatments and outcomes; and in environmental exposures and thyroid disease and thyroid cancer.
Frederick G. Hamel, PhD
Role of insulin-degrading enzyme in insulin action and development of insulin resistance Signal transduction mechanisms of peptide hormones, especially insulin Biologic activity of insulin degradation products Role of insulin degrading enzyme in the pathophysiology of diabetes. Role of insulin degrading enzyme in insulin resistance caused by protease inhibitors Etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Brianna Johnson-Rabbett, MD
Dr. Johnson-Rabbett's research is focused on obesity.
Anupam Kotwal, MD
Dr. Kotwal conducts multidisciplinary translational research to identify prognostic immune biomarkers (via multiplex immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing and flow cytometry) for thyroid cancer and evaluate their association with the differential clustering of thyroid cancer in Nebraska related to social, demographic and environmental factors. He also studies endocrine dysfunction caused by novel immunotherapies used to treat various cancers and has demonstrated that the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction from these therapies is a biomarker for improved survival.
Jennifer L. Larsen, MD
Dr. Larsen conducts research into nontraditional risk factors for vascular disease after kidney transplant; primary prevention of diabetes and its complications; and improving outcomes after solid organ transplant.
Lynn R. Mack, MD
Dr. Mack's research interests are related to bone health with an interest in bone loss in cystic fibrosis and bone loss with short bowel syndrome.
Saraswathi Viswanathan, PhD
The role of adipose tissue inflammation in mediating obesity-linked metabolic disorders, the role of oxidative stress and inflammation on alcoholic liver injury in obesity and altered amino acid metabolism in pancreatic cancer