Faculty

Our laboratory is developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to prevent type 2 diabetes.  The prevalence of diabetes has skyrocketed since the 1980s, and attempts to curb this trend have had little impact.  One reason is that the tests commonly used to screen for diabetes risk, namely fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and the clinical criteria for metabolic syndrome do not detect the earliest abnormalities.  By the time an individual develops impaired glucose tolerance, 50-70% of pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretory capacity has been lost.  Thus, it is imperative to identify at-risk individuals earlier, to preserve pancreatic beta cells and effectively prevent both diabetes and prediabetes.  We have discovered two novel biomarkers for early metabolic syndrome.  One biomarker is based on compact NMR technology, and the second, on dynamic light scattering (DLS).  Both are sufficiently practical and inexpensive for translation into the clinic and population settings.  The NMR- and DLS-based biomarkers monitor the physical properties of molecules or particles in the blood, in contrast with conventional biomarkers that measure concentrations.  Current efforts in the lab are focused on two areas:  (1) biomarker discovery and validation using large-scale, longitudinal human population studies, and (2) testing new therapeutic strategies to reverse early insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and prediabetes.

Education and academic positions

• Binghamton University, formerly SUNY Binghamton, B.S. with Academic Distinction, Biochemistry (1978)
• Boston University School of Medicine, M.D., Ph.D. (1985)
  
  
• Assistant and Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1989-2007)
• Director, Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Washington University in St. Louis (1996-2003)
• Visiting Professor of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Canada (1999-2000)
• Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina (2007-2012)
• Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina (2007-2012)
• Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas (2012-2016)
• Professor, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas (2012-2016)
• Professor and Director, Center of Emphasis in Diabetes and Metabolism, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, TTUHSC El Paso, El Paso, TX (2016-present)

Honors (fellowships, career development awards, endowments, etc.)

• Aswad Prize for Outstanding Student Going on to Medical School, SUNY Binghamton Foundation (1978)
• NIH Predoctoral Fellowship in Biophysics, National Research Service Award (1980-1983)
• Honored Student Award, American Oil Chemist's Society (1983)
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Research Service Award (1985-1986)
• Andrew Costello Research Fellowship, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (1987-1988)
• Lucille P. Markey New Faculty Award, Center for Research in the Molecular Biology of Human Disease, Washington University (1991-1993)
• Johnson and Johnson/Merck Research Scholar, American Digestive Health Foundation (1992-1995)
• Member, Special Study Section 7, National Institutes of Health (1995)
• Member Ad hoc, Biophysical Chemistry Study Section BBCB, NIH (1996)
• Member, NIH Special Emphasis Review Panel, ZRG1 SSS-A (2002)
• Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 BPC-L 30, NMR S10 (2004)
• Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 F04B 20 L, Fellowships (2005)
• Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 BCMB-L30, High-end NMR (2006)
• Military Relevance Review Panel, DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, Deployment Related Medical Research Program, US Army (2008)
• Member, NIH F04B Study Section, Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences (2009)
• Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow, East Carolina University (2009)
• Rehabilitation Peer Review Panel, Defense Medical Research and Development Program, Applied Research and Advanced Technology Development Awards, U.S. DoD (2010)
• Co-Chair, National Institutes of Health F04B Fellowship Review Panel (2009)
• Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service, College of Allied Health Sciences, ECU (2010)
• North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on Behavioral Health Services for the Military and Their Families (2010-2011)
• Chair, NIH F04B Study Section, Fellowships in Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences (2010-2011)
• Chair, NIH F04 Study Section, Fellowships in Chemistry, Engineering, Biochemistry & Biophysics (2012)
• Water T2 as a Global Biomarker for Cardiometabolic Health The PREMIER Study (2018-2020)

Link to NLM bibliography

View Dr. David P. Cistola's publications.

My research focus is to demonstrate the impact of inflammatory mediators on the pathogenesis of diabetic complications: neuropathy, nephropathy and gastroparesis. We have established that replication defective herpes simplex virus-mediated gene transfer of growth factors (NGF, NT-3, VEGF) can prevent diabetic and drug-induced peripheral sensory neuropathy in animals, and that gene transfer mediated release of inhibitory neurotransmitters (Enkephalin, GABA) in diabetic animals reduces pain concomitantly with a reduction in sodium channel NaV1.7 levels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Our recent studies show therapeutic benefits of HSV mediated release of anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10, sTNFR) in the DRG with a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, subsequently inhibiting painful neuropathy. We have also demonstrated exercise-mediated alleviation of painful neuropathy with a decrease in neuro-inflammation. Currently we are assessing if blocking the release of noxious cytokines improves renal dysfunction and gastric dys-motility in diabetic animals. We are trying to identify novel early biomarkers of inflammation and epigenetic modulators (histone modifications) involved in the progression of neuropathy, nephropathy and gastroparesis in diabetic animals, and are exploring whether inhibiting inflammation or epigenetic changes will alter the progression of these complications. Thus, we are focusing on understanding the role of inflammation and nutritional deficits in the development of diabetic complications and co-morbidities.

Education and academic positions

• University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India: B.Sc. Biology, Zoology (Hons)
• Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India: M.Sc. Zoology
• Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India: Ph.D. Neurosciences
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
  
  
• Research Investigator, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan (2004 – 2010)
• Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan (2010-2014)
• Assistant Professor, Center of Emphasis in Diabetes and Metabolism, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, TTUHSC El Paso, El Paso, TX (2014-Present)

Honors (fellowships, career development awards, endowments, etc.)

• Junior/Senior Research Fellowship, University Grants Commission, India (1993-1998)
• Best Graduate Student Award, Symposium on Frontiers of Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India, 1997
• Peripheral Nerve Society Fellow (2007-2011)
• Member: American Diabetes Association (2010-present)
• Member: Society for Neuroscience (2000-present)
• Member: Peripheral Nerve Society (2005-present)
• Member: Endocrine Society (2014-present)
• Editorial Board Member: World Journal of Diabetes (2013-present); Journal of Hematology Research (2014-present); Journal of Biotherapy (2014-present)
• Associate Editor: Journal of Diabetes Research (2014-present)
• Grant reviewer: American Diabetes Association (2016-present); Indiana Diabetes Research Center (IDRC; external)
• Ad hoc member: SCS study section, NIH (2015-present); Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience IRG, NIH (2015)
• The Edward N. and Margaret G. Marsh Foundation, Gastroparesis, A Mysterious Stomach Disorder and Its Prevalence in Women (2019-2020)
• National Science Foundation, Studying Effects of Microgravity (2019-2022)

Link to PubMed publications

View Dr. Chattopadhyay's publications.