Danielle Dean

Dr. Danielle Dean is an Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University with joint appointments in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism and the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. Her research investigates mechanisms of pancreatic islet cell plasticity, focusing on how metabolic signals regulate alpha and beta cell function in health and disease contexts.

Her primary research interests include:

• Metabolic regulation of glucagon and insulin secretion
• Amino acid sensing and signaling pathways in pancreatic cells
• Impact of nutrient availability on islet cell proliferation and function
• Molecular mechanisms linking metabolism to cellular aging in endocrine tissues

Analysis of Dr. Dean's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on pancreatic islet biology, with strong emphasis on:

• Metabolic signaling pathways (mTORC1, YAP, CaSR-Gq)
• Amino acid transporters and nutrient sensing mechanisms
• Cellular plasticity in diabetes and aging contexts
• Translational approaches to improve beta cell function

Her work employs rodent models, human islet studies, and molecular techniques to address fundamental questions in metabolic physiology.