Dr. Sarah Tersey is an islet biologist whose research focuses on the role of the ß-cell in the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The primary goal of her research focuses on understanding the molecular pathways that play a role in the development of diabetes. Specifically, pathways that include the enzymes 12-lipoxygnease and deoxyhypusine synthase. By using inhibitors against these pathways or creating genetic deletions of either of these genes, Dr. Tersey has shown that diabetes can be prevented. A second major focus of her research is the development of biomarkers that will best predict the likelihood of any one individual’s risk to develop type 1 diabetes. Within this concept, she demonstrated that the dysfunction of the pancreatic islet precedes the onset of type 1 diabetes. This research has changed the standard dogma of the islet as a silent bystander to the immune system, to the new way of thinking – that the pancreatic islet is a major player in its own demise during the pre-course of type 1 diabetes.
University of Virgina
Charlottesville, VA
Postdoctoral Fellow - Diabetes and Endocrinology
2008
Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Neuroendocrinology
2007
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MS
Ph.D. - Animal Biotechnology
2005
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
B.S. - Animal Science
2000
RNA binding proteins PCBP1 and PCBP2 regulate pancreatic ß cell translation.
RNA binding proteins PCBP1 and PCBP2 regulate pancreatic ß cell translation. Mol Metab. 2025 May 30; 98:102175.
PMID: 40451383
12-Lipoxygenase Inhibition Improves Glycemia and Obesity-associated Inflammation in Male Human Gene Replacement Mice.
12-Lipoxygenase Inhibition Improves Glycemia and Obesity-associated Inflammation in Male Human Gene Replacement Mice. Endocrinology. 2025 Apr 22; 166(6).
PMID: 40186458
RNA Splicing Events in Circulation Distinguish Individuals With and Without New-onset Type 1 Diabetes.
RNA Splicing Events in Circulation Distinguish Individuals With and Without New-onset Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Mar 17; 110(4):1148-1157.
PMID: 39252615
Reshaping lipid metabolism with long-term alternate day feeding in type 2 diabetes mice.
Reshaping lipid metabolism with long-term alternate day feeding in type 2 diabetes mice. NPJ Metab Health Dis. 2025; 3(1):3.
PMID: 39911696
Hypusinated and unhypusinated isoforms of the translation factor eIF5A exert distinct effects in models of pancreas development and function.
Hypusinated and unhypusinated isoforms of the translation factor eIF5A exert distinct effects in models of pancreas development and function. J Biol Chem. 2025 Feb; 301(2):108209.
PMID: 39832654
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition improves glucose homeostasis and obesity-associated inflammation in human gene replacement mice.
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition improves glucose homeostasis and obesity-associated inflammation in human gene replacement mice. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 13.
PMID: 39868153
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition delays onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice.
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition delays onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice. JCI Insight. 2024 Dec 20; 9(24).
PMID: 39531315
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition delays onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice.
12-Lipoxygenase inhibition delays onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice. bioRxiv. 2024 Oct 29.
PMID: 39091839
RNA Splicing Events in Circulation Distinguish Individuals with and without New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes.
RNA Splicing Events in Circulation Distinguish Individuals with and without New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Sep 10.
PMID: 39252615
Inhibition of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2a kinase PERK decreases risk of autoimmune diabetes in mice.
Inhibition of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2a kinase PERK decreases risk of autoimmune diabetes in mice. J Clin Invest. 2024 Jun 18; 134(16).
PMID: 38889047