Areas of Expertise: Pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes, adipose tissue biology, molecular mechanisms for insulin resistance
Education:
2010-2014, Post-doctoral training in Biochemistry and Metabolism, Harvard University, Boston, USA
1996-2000, PhD, Biochemistry, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
1992-1999, MD, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
Employment History Experience:
2018-present, Director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
2012-2018, Attending Physician, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
2009-2011, Fellowship in Endocrinology and Diabetes, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
2005-2008, Residency in Internal Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
Academic Appointments:
2023-present, Full Professor in Medicine, Tel-Aviv University School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
2016-2023, Associate Professor in Medicine, Tel-Aviv University School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
2012-2016, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard School of Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
Membership in Professional/ Scientific Societies:
Israel Endocrine Society
American Diabetes Association
European Association for the Study of Diabetes
Research Interests:
With the worldwide epidemic proportions of obesity, its related morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes have become an emerging threat for public health. Our group has focused on the following aspects of the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes:
a. The role of food preservatives as 'metabolic disruptors': Some environmental and nutritional factors have been demonstrated to act as 'endocrine disruptors', with the ability to act as agonists or antagonists to certain receptors in a wide variety of biological systems. We have identified a common food preservative, with distinct metabolic effects. We were able to demonstrate that this food preservative results in an increase in hepatic glucose production as well as in changes in glucagon and insulin levels leading to liver insulin resistance. Chronic exposure results in weight gain, increase adiposity and systemic insulin resistance in mouse models. We are currently working on the effects of common non-nutritive sweeteners on systemic metabolism. In addition, we continue to work using in-vitro and in-vivo animal models to assess the effects of micronutrients in modern nutrition on the development of obesity and diabetes.
b. Cellular mechanism linking over-nutrition with inflammation, insulin resistance and diabetes: Previous studies have clearly demonstrated that chronic inflammation and cellular stress is a central feature of obesity and its associated metabolic disease cluster. This inflammatory response is distinct, appears to respond to intrinsic cues, and does not resemble the classical inflammatory paradigm. Significant data have emerged in recent years on the molecular mechanisms leading to the development of these inflammatory and stress responses and how they are linked to metabolic homeostasis. Our research is focused on the regulation and adaptation to inflammation and stress within the tissue milieu in metabolically relevant tissues such as liver and adipose tissue. More specifically, we study cell-cell communication and the role of gap junctions in the propagation of inflammatory and stress signals between cells within a tissue and the potential role of such communication in mediating insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities.
c. In addition to utilizing basic research tools to promote our understanding on the mechanisms leading to insulin resistance and diabetes, we involve in clinical studies assessing novel risk factors and potential therapeutic approaches for these conditions. We are currently involved in several studies looking at the potential role of the novel adipokine FABP4 (fatty acid binding protein 4) in the insulin counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia and as a potential contributor to the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes and ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes. More recently, we involve in studies assessing the potential role of FABP4 as a mediator of the adipose tissue stromal support for cancer cells.
Research Grants & Awards:
Awards:
2015, The American Society for Clinical Investigation – Young Physician-Scientist Award
2013, Excellence in tutorial facilitation, The Academy at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
2009, D-Cure Young Scientist Award for outstanding contribution to diabetes research, Tel Aviv, Israel
2006, Chower's prize for Landmark Publication, The Israel Endocrine Society
2005, Outstanding Young Researcher Award, The Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps
Grants:
2020-2021, Principal Investigator, Investigator Initiated Study Program by Medtronic, Safety and Efficacy of combined glucose sensor and infusion set
2020-2021, Principal Investigator, Investigator Initiated Study, The Central Bottling Company, The long-term metabolic effects of non-caloric sweeteners
2020, Principal Investigator, Investigator Initiated Study Program by Medtronic, Safety and Efficacy of Extended Wear Infusion Set with FIASP used with insulin pumps
2019-2021, Principle Investigator, European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), Patient reported outcomes and ambulatory glucose profiles in a virtual type 1 diabetes clinic
2019-2020, Principal Investigator, Investigator Initiated Study Program by Medtronic, Unannounced Meal Handling of Advanced Closed Loop Insulin Delivery in Monitored Outpatient Conditions
2018-2020, Principle Investigator, United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Impact of culinary coaching telemedicine program on body weight and metabolic outcomes
2017-2021, Principle Investigator, Israeli Science Foundation (ISF), Connexin 43-mediated cell-cell communication and propagation of adipose tissue ER stress in obesity
2016-2019, Principle Investigator, Innovative Clinical or Translational Science Award. The American Diabetes Association (1-16-ICTS-113), Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
2015-2018, Principle Investigator, The Research Projects and Fellowships Fund on Food and Nutrition with Implications of Public Health. Israel Ministry of Health, An unexpected role for propionic acid, a commonly-used food preservative, in mediating insulin resistance and weight gain
2013-2018, Principle Investigator, National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - K08 DK097145-01, Characterization of the role of gap junction proteins in ER stress and obesity
Publications:
Here is a link to the publications of Dr. Amir Tirosh on PubMed
