Ali Shilleh

Ali Shilleh is a Novo Nordisk Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Hodson Group focusing on Cellular Metabolism and GPCR Signaling. He holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from UMass Boston (2014) and an M.S. in Nutrition and Biomedicine from the Technical University of Munich (2016). His research explores GLP1R signaling in pancreatic β-cells, stem cell-derived β-cell therapies for diabetes, and targeted drug delivery systems. His work aims to improve cell transplantation efficacy and develop gene therapy approaches for Type 2 Diabetes. Shilleh's recent studies include nanocapsule-based drug delivery and GIPR/GLP1R receptor signaling dynamics across pancreatic cell types.

• Education: UMass Boston (B.S., 2014), Technical University of Munich (M.S., 2016)
• Previous affiliations: Russ Lab at University of Colorado Anschutz (PhD student, 2017–2022)
• Key focus areas: Diabetes pathophysiology, β-cell biology, GPCR signaling, and translational therapies

Shilleh's research interests span metabolic regulation, stem cell engineering for β-cell production, and molecular imaging of receptor signaling pathways. His studies on LDHB enzyme function and lactate metabolism in β-cells provide insights into insulin secretion mechanisms. He has also investigated methods to enhance stem cell-derived β-cell survival post-transplantation through pharmacological interventions.

His 2024 publications highlight advancements in nanocapsule drug delivery targeting β-cells and the first comprehensive analysis of GLP1R/GIPR signaling across α, β, and δ pancreatic cells. These findings contribute to developing dual agonist therapies and imaging tools for diabetes research.

• Awards: None explicitly stated
• Grants: Funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation

Shilleh collaborates with the Hodson Group ('Hodsquad') to explore GLP1R-based gene therapies for T2D. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, targeting metabolic disorders through innovative cell and molecular approaches.