Kripa Shankar

Kripa Shankar, Ph.D., is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine and a member of the Center for Hypothalamic Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He also holds a secondary appointment in Dr. Shawn Burgess's Lab within the Center for Human Nutrition. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease using stable isotope tracers.

Education includes a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (Kanpur), M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (Lucknow), and a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from Central Drug Research Institute (Lucknow). Postdoctoral training in Dr. Jeffrey Zigman’s lab investigated ghrelin’s role in glucose homeostasis.

Research interests emphasize ghrelin signaling pathways, pancreatic islet biology, and metabolic disorders. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles highlight contributions to understanding adipogenesis, insulin resistance, and novel therapeutic targets. Notable recognition includes the 2021 Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award from the Obesity Society.

Professional activities include editorial roles for Frontiers in Endocrinology and BMC Research Notes, alongside ad hoc reviewing. His work bridges basic science with translational medicine, addressing critical gaps in metabolic disease pathophysiology.