Evan Dale Abel

Evan Dale Abel is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research program, substantially funded by the NIH, investigates molecular mechanisms linking metabolic disorders like diabetes to cardiovascular complications. Key focus areas include cardiac insulin resistance, mitochondrial dynamics in heart failure, and the impact of oxidative stress on diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Abel's work spans fundamental metabolic pathways in cardiac and skeletal muscle, exploring how disruptions in glucose uptake, insulin/IGF-1 signaling, mitochondrial function (e.g., involving OPA1, GLUT proteins), and autophagy contribute to disease pathogenesis. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on translating basic discoveries in mitochondrial bioenergetics, autophagy regulation, and metabolic reprogramming into understanding human conditions like heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Research trends highlight the integration of advanced techniques, including metabolomics, electron microscopy analysis, and in vivo physiological modeling.

He leads significant NIH grants, including R01 awards focused on molecular determinants of MG53 in heart function, modulating ROS via electromagnetic fields for type 2 diabetes treatment, OPA1's role in platelet hyperactivation, and diabetes research training. His laboratory investigates therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic pathways and oxidative stress in cardiovascular tissues.