Raghu G. Mirmira, MD, PhD, is a physician–scientist specializing in diabetes, β-cell biology, and translational endocrinology. He is a tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, where he serves as Director of the NIH-funded Diabetes Research and Training Center and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine. He completed his MD and PhD training at the University of Chicago, followed by residency and fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was a Howard Hughes Physician Postdoctoral Fellow.
Dr. Mirmira’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that lead to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and loss in diabetes. His laboratory has examined transcriptional control of β-cell identity, inflammatory pathways including 12-lipoxygenase, and stress-response mechanisms affecting β-cell survival. His group has also contributed to the development of biomarkers that reflect β-cell stress and injury in individuals with or at risk for type 1 diabetes. His work spans molecular and cellular approaches, human islet studies, and translational investigations aimed at informing new therapeutic strategies.
He has maintained continuous NIH funding for more than two decades and serves as PI or MPI on multiple NIH R01, U01, and P30 grants. He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians, and he received the Albert Renold Award from the American Diabetes Association for contributions to mentorship and training. In addition to his research program, Dr. Mirmira remains active in clinical endocrinology at UChicago
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 02; 301(2):108209.
PMID: 39832654
Leukotriene B4 receptor 2 governs macrophage migration during tissue inflammation.
Leukotriene B4 receptor 2 governs macrophage migration during tissue inflammation. J Biol Chem. 2024 01; 300(1):105561.
PMID: 38097183
Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves ß cell function in type 1 diabetes.
Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves ß cell function in type 1 diabetes. Cell Rep Med. 2023 11 21; 4(11):101261.
PMID: 37918404
Protocol to isolate immune cells from mouse pancreatic lymph nodes and whole pancreas for mass cytometric analyses.
Protocol to isolate immune cells from mouse pancreatic lymph nodes and whole pancreas for mass cytometric analyses. STAR Protoc. 2023 03 17; 4(1):101938.
PMID: 36520629
Extracellular vesicles in ß cell biology: Role of lipids in vesicle biogenesis, cargo, and intercellular signaling.
Extracellular vesicles in ß cell biology: Role of lipids in vesicle biogenesis, cargo, and intercellular signaling. Mol Metab. 2022 09; 63:101545.
PMID: 35817393
Proinflammatory signaling in islet ß cells propagates invasion of pathogenic immune cells in autoimmune diabetes.
Proinflammatory signaling in islet ß cells propagates invasion of pathogenic immune cells in autoimmune diabetes. Cell Rep. 2022 06 28; 39(13):111011.
PMID: 35767947
Deoxyhypusine synthase promotes a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype.
Deoxyhypusine synthase promotes a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. Cell Metab. 2021 09 07; 33(9):1883-1893.e7.
PMID: 34496231
The demise of islet allotransplantation in the United States: A call for an urgent regulatory update.
The demise of islet allotransplantation in the United States: A call for an urgent regulatory update. Am J Transplant. 2021 04; 21(4):1365-1375.
PMID: 33251712
Author Correction: Nuclear Translocation of Glutaminase GLS2 in Human Cancer Cells Associates with Proliferation Arrest and Differentiation.
Author Correction: Nuclear Translocation of Glutaminase GLS2 in Human Cancer Cells Associates with Proliferation Arrest and Differentiation. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 04; 11(1):249.
PMID: 33397990
Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling of Mouse Islets Following Short-Term Obesogenic Dietary Intervention.
Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling of Mouse Islets Following Short-Term Obesogenic Dietary Intervention. Metabolites. 2020 Dec 18; 10(12).
PMID: 33353164