معرفی
Dr. Debby Koonen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Medical Sciences, affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Her research focuses on the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, particularly obesity and its associations with aging, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. She investigates mechanisms linking inflammation, fatty acid metabolism, and energy imbalance in these conditions.
Education: She holds a degree in Exercise Physiology from Maastricht University, a PhD in Physiology (2004, Maastricht University), and completed postdoctoral training in Canada with Drs. Arend Bonen (Waterloo University) and Jason Dyck (University of Alberta). She joined UMCG in 2009.
Research Interests: Her work emphasizes the role of fatty acid transport proteins (e.g., CD36), gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and inflammatory pathways in metabolic dysfunction. Notable contributions include identifying CD36’s role in age-related cardiomyopathy and diet-induced liver steatosis.
Awards: Recipient of the Van Walree Fund (2001), Age+ Award (2008), and postdoctoral fellowships from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.
Teaching and Service: Coordinates the Molecular Research Techniques in Human Diseases course (Bachelor’s years 2-3). Her projects include analyzing mitochondrial function in chronic diseases and aging using Seahorse Bioanalyzer technology.
Labs/Teams: Active in the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at UMCG, collaborating on interdisciplinary studies involving mouse models, metabolomics, and clinical data to bridge basic science and clinical applications.
