Curtis Hughey

Curtis Hughey serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine within the Division of Molecular Medicine, conducting interdisciplinary research at the nexus of metabolism, molecular physiology, and metabolic disease pathogenesis. His work bridges basic science with clinical implications through innovative methodologies in metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis.

His research program critically examines:

• Mitochondrial metabolism in liver, skeletal muscle, and placental tissues
• Exercise-induced metabolic adaptations and dysregulation in obesity
• NAFLD pathogenesis mechanisms involving lipotoxicity and inflammation
• Metabolomic biomarker discovery for metabolic diseases
• Regulation of gluconeogenesis and glucose homeostasis

Analysis of Hughey's recent publications (2019-2023) reveals a dominant focus on tissue-specific metabolic crosstalk, particularly hepatic-muscle interactions during exercise and disease states. His work consistently employs advanced techniques including ²H/¹³C flux analysis, untargeted metabolomics, and genetically modified mouse models to dissect molecular mechanisms. Recurring themes include the dual roles of metabolic enzymes (e.g., PEPCK, pyruvate carboxylase), the impact of dietary interventions on liver metabolism, and the discovery of analytical artifacts in lipidomics that could confound biomarker research.