Emilyn U Alejandro

Emilyn U Alejandro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Minnesota, affiliated with the Healthy Weight Research Center and Lillehei Heart Institute. Her research explores molecular mechanisms linking nutrient sensing to metabolic health across developmental and chronic disease contexts.

• Research Interests: Focus on post-translational modifications (e.g., O-GlcNAc Transferase) regulating pancreatic beta-cell function, mTOR nutrient-sensing pathways, placental development in intrauterine growth restriction, and circadian disruption's impact on glucose homeostasis.
• Article Trends: Recent work examines diabetes type 2 progression through autophagy regulation, placental insulin signaling's role in offspring metabolism, and stress sensor proteins in fetal growth restriction. Key methodologies include mouse models, molecular profiling, and systems biology approaches.
• Students: Mentors graduate student Her, T. K. on metabolic health projects.
• Grants: Leads NIH-funded initiatives on diabetes research, placental nutrient transport, and systems biology training programs.
• Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Lillehei Heart Institute researchers and contributes to the Healthy Weight Research Center's interdisciplinary efforts.