Melkam Kebede

Associate Professor Melkam Kebede is a leading researcher at the University of Sydney, where she serves as Head of the Islet Biology and Metabolism Laboratory within the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health. She is also a member of the Charles Perkins Centre, a multidisciplinary research hub focused on obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Her work bridges basic science with clinical applications to address the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Kebede earned her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2008, followed by postdoctoral training at the Montreal Diabetes Research Centre under Professor Vincent Poitout and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Professor Alan Attie's laboratory. In 2015, she returned to Australia to establish her independent research group at the University of Sydney, supported by a Philanthropic Fellowship.

Her research focuses on understanding pancreatic β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes, with particular emphasis on insulin secretory granules—the specialized organelles responsible for insulin storage, maturation, and release. The Kebede Lab investigates how granule biogenesis, trafficking, and degradation are disrupted in diabetes, employing advanced techniques including mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy, and molecular and cell biology in both cellular and animal models.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on insulin granule biology, with numerous studies characterizing granule proteomes, investigating granule age dynamics, and exploring molecular mechanisms underlying β-cell dysfunction. Her work spans from fundamental cell biology to translational research, with implications for developing novel therapeutic approaches to preserve β-cell function in diabetes.

Dr. Kebede actively contributes to the Australian diabetes research community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Australian Diabetes Society, serving on multiple committees including the Research Advisory Committee, Education Advisory Committee, and Early Career Network, where she acts as Honorary Secretary.

She teaches second- and third-year physiology units at the University of Sydney, including PHSI2007: Key Concepts in Physiology and PHSI3009: Cell Physiology of Disease, integrating current research into her teaching to help students connect foundational concepts with real-world biomedical applications. Her laboratory receives funding from Diabetes Australia and NHMRC Project and Ideas Grants to support ongoing research into β-cell biology and diabetes pathogenesis.