Thuong Ho, an IPiB graduate student, will be defending his Ph.D. research on May 8.
Ho, who is a member of the Merrins Lab, has focused his research on identifying the mechanism for insulin secretion in cells.
“Knowing more about insulin secretion is important,” explains Ho, “because there are serious medical conditions, including diabetes, that occur when insulin secretion is not properly regulated.”
His research aims to achieve a more nuanced understanding of how insulin secretion occurs within cells.
Ho says, “We’ve known for a while that the mechanism for insulin secretion is dependent on energy signaling involving ATP”—or adenosine triphosphate, a molecule which provides energy required for cells to carry out functions and processes. “The Merrins Lab had identified that the level of a certain enzyme — pyruvate kinase — has a surprising correlation with insulin secretion. We often associate the mitochondria with energy signaling because it produces so much ATP. Pyruvate kinase makes a smaller amount of ATP, but it has a stronger correlation with energy production when it comes to insulin secretion.”
Ho’s research been published in several print and online journals, including Cell Metabolism, Cell Reports, and eLife.
One of the keys to his success, Ho says, is the breadth of knowledge he’s been able to draw on through his mentors and committee members.
“My committee members have different areas of expertise, and they have helped me think about my research less narrowly,” he says. “I am a biochemist, but I’m asked questions by someone with a physiology background. Addressing those questions adds significance to the work.”
Just as important to the development of his research, he says, has been the community of peers that Ho has found in IPiB.
“Apart from the science, the friendships and collaborations have been the best part of grad school,” says Ho. “I’ve been lucky to have peers I can talk to about what’s going on with my work. We can share and push each other throughout this process.”
After graduating, Ho is looking forward to building on the experiences he’s had as a graduate student working with WiSolve Consulting Group. He will join the team at Boston Consulting Group in Seattle, where he will help advise businesses on management decisions.
To learn more about Ho’s research, attend his Ph.D. defense on Monday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m. CT in Room 175 of the DeLuca Biochemistry Laboratories Building.