Meet the Researcher Monday: featuring Will Holland, PhD.
in Research
Born in Maui and raised in Colorado, Dr. Will Holland completed graduate work at the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and the University of Utah. He was drawn to Utah by the collaborative, interdisciplinary research approaches used to study Diabetes, Obesity and related co-morbidities. Dr. Holland recently returned to Utah after a decade of research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He brings to Utah a strong background in lipid signaling, insulin action and diabetic physiology. His past research has highlighted the role for a lipid metabolite, termed ceramide, in the progression of diabetes, beta cell dysfunction, vascular dysfunction, and cardiomyopathy. Ceramide builds up in response to excess dietary intake of saturated fat, and inflammatory factors. Will Holland completed his dissertation work with Scott Summers at the University of Utah in 2007. Together, they produced seminal work establishing the role of ceramide as an inhibitor of insulin action. During his subsequent postdoctoral work with Philipp Scherer, he uncovered the roles of adiponectin and FGF21, as potent regulators of ceramide metabolism which can maintain survival and promote regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, focusing efforts on the roles of ceramide catabolic enzymes on glucose and lipid metabolism. He is the proud recipient of a Career Development Award and a Sponsored Research Agreement from the JDRF. Will has recently uncovered an exciting result, that blocking the action of glucagon (a glucose-raising hormone) stimulates the regeneration of new beta cell mass, and prevents cell death in human islets.
His current research focuses on: 1) protecting fragile insulin producing beta cells and heart muscle cells from the lipid burden encountered in diabetic individuals; 2) evaluating mechanisms by which adiponectin and FGF21 promote beta cell survival and regeneration; 3) evaluating novel means of opposing glucagon’s hyperglycemic effects in diabetes; and 4) understanding the complex biophysical and signaling components by which the sphingolipid ceramide impairs insulin action and promotes cell death.
Learn more about Dr. Holland below and be sure to join us on our Chapter Facebook page for a LIVE Q&A with Dr. Holland on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 1pm.
Why did you decide to become involved in type 1 diabetes research?
I come from a family of diabetics, and grew tired of the limitations of modern medicine. I have seen too many hypoglycemic episodes, and too much neuropathy.
As a researcher, what are you most proud of?
We are continually training the next generation of scientists. Watching them learn and grow is like watching your own kids mature. I love my kids and I’m proud of their work and maturation.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your research?
One of my challenges is to maintain continuity with projects. Sources of funding and skilled research personnel comes and goes. At the end of the day, I still have to ensure that all of our findings get published so that the scientific field can build upon that knowledge.
What do you appreciate most about working with JDRF?
I have enjoyed great partnerships with the JDRF. JDRF is not just a funding source, but they help guide and motivate our research. JDRF wants their investments to succeed, and they help foster some great collaborations to enable the success of our research.
As a close friend of our local JDRF chapter, what can we do to help you in your research?
Advocate, Motivate and Donate! Your voice goes a long way in helping our research. Your advocating for congressional support of research, your personal financial support, and your personal stories help us continue our pursuit of a cure for T1D.
What would additional funding mean for your research?
Under normal times, additional funding means a chance to expand our research and provide new insights to help promote beta cell regeneration. These are not normal times. As our budgets grow tighter, funding is critical just to maintain our capacity to continue T1D research.
What does a world without type 1 diabetes mean to you?
If we can turn Type-1 into Type-none, then we are a step closer to curing all forms of diabetes, and abolishing all of the painful conditions that accompany these diseases.
What is your favorite 80s movie?
The Outsiders. “Stay gold, Pony Boy”