Principal Investigator

Paul Hruz is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. Hruz has clinical interest in a wide range of endocrine disorders, with a special interest in diabetes mellitus. His research efforts are directed toward understanding facilitative glucose transport as it relates to normal and disordered glucose homeostasis. The laboratory is investigating the in vitro and in vivo effects of HIV protease inhibitors on glucose transporter function. The goal of this research is to identify the molecular mechanisms that lead HIV infected patients receiving PIs to develop insulin resistance. The laboratory is also using these isoform-selective antagonists of the insulin-responsive transporter GLUT4 to understand the role of glucose transport in insulin-responsive tissues. Recent efforts have been directed toward understanding the role of glucose transport in the failing heart. This has led to translational research into the understanding of the influence of insulin resistance in pediatric heart failure.