Jannette M. Dufour

Jannette M. Dufour serves as University Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry in the School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, while also co-directing the Center of Excellence in Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research (COCR).

She earned her Ph.D. in Genetics and Cell Biology from Washington State University (1999) followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Alberta's Surgical Medical Research Institute (1999-2005) with the Islet Transplantation Group.

Dr. Dufour's research pioneers the therapeutic application of immune-privileged Sertoli cells to revolutionize diabetes treatment through enhanced cell transplantation outcomes. Her laboratory systematically investigates Sertoli cell-mediated immunoprotection mechanisms for insulin-expressing cell survival and develops cell-based gene therapy approaches, while collaborating on bioactive compound applications for diabetes management.

Her scientific honors include:

• TTUHSC President's Young Investigator Award (2011)
• Outstanding Women Leader (OWL) Award (2013)
• Harry M. Weitlauf Anatomy Teaching Award (2013)
• Dean's Basic Science Teaching Award (2017, 2024)
• President's Team Teaching Award (2019, 2020)
• Graduate School Dean’s Teaching Award (2023)

Externally funded by NIH, American Diabetes Association, Robert A. Welch Foundation, Jasper L. and Jack Denton Wilson Foundation, and Ted Nash Long Life Foundation, her work has earned cover features in Cell Transplantation, Spermatogenesis, DNA and Cell Biology, and Biomedicines, with highlights in Biology of Reproduction and Nature Medicine. She maintains active seminar invitations at institutions including NIAID and NIEHS.

As COCR Co-Director, she leads multidisciplinary research initiatives targeting obesity-diabetes-cardiometabolic disease intersections through institutional collaborations between TTUHSC and Texas Tech University.