Noemi Polgar

Noemi Polgar is an Assistant Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, within the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry & Physiology. Her research focuses on mechanisms underlying type-2 diabetes, particularly glucose and fatty acid uptake regulation in skeletal muscle, and the role of exercise in improving metabolic health. She investigates the exocyst complex's role in cellular trafficking and its implications for kidney and metabolic disorders. Previously, she contributed to genetic studies of neurofibromatosis and Rett syndrome in Hungary before joining the University of Hawaii in 2012. Her work bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical applications, addressing health disparities in Pacific Islander communities.

Education:

• PhD in Biotechnology and Genetics from the University of Szeged, Hungary

Research Interests: Polgar's lab explores insulin resistance, exercise-mediated metabolic pathways, and exocyst-mediated trafficking in diabetes. Key areas include:

• GLUT4 transporter regulation in skeletal muscle
• Exocyst's role in fatty acid translocase (CD36) trafficking
• Mechanisms of insulin-independent glucose uptake
• Genetic and environmental factors in metabolic syndrome

Publications: Her recent work emphasizes exocyst's role in glucose homeostasis (2021), fatty acid transport (2022), and renal epithelial biology (2019). Earlier studies include genetic analyses of inflammatory bowel disease (2012) and Rett syndrome databases (2012).

Labs/Teams: Leads the Polgar Lab, part of the Diabetes COBRE grant-funded research group, focusing on translational diabetes research.