Alexis Diaz Vegas

Mr. Alexis Diaz Vegas is a Research Fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. His work focuses on metabolic disease mechanisms, particularly insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction across multiple tissues.

His research interests span metabolic disease, insulin resistance, mitochondrial biology, skeletal muscle physiology, adipocyte biology, and cardiometabolic disease. Dr. Diaz Vegas investigates how mitochondrial-ER interactions, lipid metabolism, and cellular signaling pathways contribute to metabolic disorders. His work often employs advanced techniques including proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and high-content screening to uncover novel mechanisms in metabolic disease.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on mitochondrial dysfunction in insulin resistance, with particular attention to the electron transport chain, ceramide metabolism, and coenzyme Q. His work connects basic cellular mechanisms to whole-body metabolic phenotypes, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. The research demonstrates how interventions like exercise can reverse metabolic defects, highlighting potential therapeutic approaches.

• 2025 CPC Catchlove-Sylvan MCR Fellowship
• 2021 NHMRC Ideas Grant for Treating Cardiometabolic Disease by Targeting Mitochondrial Defects
• Diabetes Australia Research Grant for Role of the mitochondrial protease miPEP in insulin resistance in adipocytes

Dr. Diaz Vegas currently supervises two research students: Chandrapaul MUKHERJEE (working on fluorescent pH sensors for biological studies) and Yiju ZHANG (investigating endosomal trafficking defects in insulin resistance). His research group collaborates extensively with other metabolic researchers at the University of Sydney, particularly with James D. and colleagues across multiple disciplines including endocrinology, physiology, and molecular biology. The lab utilizes advanced techniques including proteomics, metabolomics, and cellular imaging to investigate metabolic disease mechanisms.