Matthew Merrins

Dr. Matthew Merrins is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. His research focuses on metabolic signaling in pancreatic islets, investigating how beta and alpha cells regulate insulin and glucagon secretion through GPCR pathways and mitochondrial interactions. The lab employs advanced techniques like 3D light-sheet imaging and 2-photon microscopy to study these processes in real-time diabetes models.

Research projects include: (1) Localized glycolytic ATP signaling in hormone secretion, (2) Age/obesity impacts on GPCR drug response, and (3) Alpha cell nutrient sensing and intercellular communication. Recent work challenges the canonical insulin secretion model with the MitoCat-MitoOx framework.

His laboratory has trained numerous students including Sophie Sdao, Erli Jin, and Hannah, who have published in top journals and received competitive fellowships. The lab actively recruits researchers and maintains collaborations with international diabetes experts.