Our Get to Know series highlights our dynamic researchers from across the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), from faculty members to trainees and laboratory staff. This month, we’re spotlighting researcher John Mullin, originally from Pennsylvania, who works in the labs of clinical diabetes researchers Rita Basu, M.D., and Ananda Basu, M.D. studying glucose metabolism.
What’s your hometown?
John MullinI come from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia with some of the most beautiful fall foliage you can see in out of all 50 states.
Tell us about your background and current role at UAB/UCDC.
I spent my undergrad at Temple University, where I studied Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. I have been at UAB for almost three years.
What are some of your current research projects in the Basu Lab?
Our team at the Basu laboratory has some exciting work going on focusing on glucose metabolism under different conditions.
Dr. Rita Basu currently has a study investigating how complex carbohydrates are metabolized in Type 2 diabetes (T2D), and how eating a fixed amount of these carbohydrates daily can impact beta cell function and insulin sensitivity. With this, Dr. Rita also has a protocol looking into cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) to study whether glucose metabolism is improved by cystic fibrosis modulator therapy.
Dr. Ananda Basu has a couple of protocols currently enrolling participants as well. One that I am working on is the study Post-Prandial Carbohydrate Metabolism in Individuals With and Without Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia, which looks to compare post meal carbohydrate, hormone, and liver-glycogen metabolism. By comparing these data from two subject groups (one with and one without hypoglycemic occurrences after meals) Dr. Ananda aims to obtain critical information to guide an algorithm for a closed-loop glucagon therapy.
How did you first get involved in diabetes research?
During my undergraduate laboratory courses, I found myself at home in the laboratory, especially in my neuro and organic chem labs. During this time, I had also worked as a chemical concentrations and extractions tech at SGS to get my “hands wet” (wet lab, bench work, get it?) in a lab setting outside of the classroom. I enjoyed learning and applying the methods I had read about in the classroom into real-world applications, but I wanted to put my efforts toward something more meaningful.
What does your role in the Basu Lab and working in diabetes research mean to you?
Working in the lab and assisting in our current protocols is fulfilling. Reaching out to and speaking to participants and interpreting data in real time to see how the work we do has made an impact has taught me how much work truly goes into the publications that guide the future of the clinical field. Working in a lab with the veteran principal investigators Dr. Ananda and Dr. Rita has also allowed me to grow as a scientist, showing me the ropes and guiding me along as I continue my career.
What do you enjoy outside of the lab?
Outside of the lab I like to play guitar (only acoustic nowadays for the sake of my neighbors), hang out with my pet bunny Woodrow or go see what Alabama has to offer at its parks and trails! On lazier days, I will just sit inside and watch movies endlessly though.