Tae-Hwa Chun

Tae-Hwa Chun is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan in the Department of Internal Medicine - Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes. He is affiliated with multiple centers including the Biointerfaces Institute, MExperts-Center for Global Health Equity, Global REACH, and Caswell Diabetes Institute. As a physician-scientist, his work bridges clinical endocrinology with mechanistic research in adipose tissue biology and ECM remodeling.

• OBESITY & DIABETES RESEARCH
• THYROID EYE DISEASE STUDIES
• 3D TISSUE ENGINEERING EXPERT
• NIH/NSF GRANT RECIPIENT

His research focuses on extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, particularly exploring how adipose and skeletal muscle tissues remodel under metabolic stress. Key discoveries include the role of MT1-MMP in adipose expansion and TCF21-driven IL6 expression in visceral adipose stem cells. He employs cutting-edge technologies like 3D organoids and on-chip adipose models to study disease mechanisms ex vivo.

Recent publications highlight thrombospondin-1's role in diaphragm dysfunction and HIF2A-LOX pathway involvement in thyroid-associated orbitopathy. His work has been supported by continuous NIH funding since 2005 and an NSF CAREER award in 2018.

• NIH R01 - Diaphragm Remodeling (2019-2024)
• NSF CAREER - Beta Cell Dysfunction (2018-2024)
• NIH R03 - Adipose Collagenolysis (2011-2013)
• AHA GRANT - MT1-MMP in Atherosclerosis (2008-2009)

He co-mentors Ph.D. candidates at the Biointerfaces Institute and teaches M1 Disease Mechanism to clinical residents. His lab's technical innovations include immunomagnetic ASC separation and engineered ECM platforms for tumor cell expansion.