People Biography

Professor Juleen R. Zierath is a leading researcher in metabolic physiology, focusing on the cellular mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes and the therapeutic potential of physical exercise. She holds dual professorships: Professor of Clinical Integrative Physiology and Head of the Section of Integrative Physiology in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Professor of Integrative Physiology and Executive Director of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Professor Zierath's translational research program elucidates the molecular basis of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes. Her work has revealed impairments along the insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle from Type 2 diabetic patients and mapped the exercise-mediated signaling cascades that control glucose metabolism and gene expression, findings with clinical implications, as regular physical activity protects against insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. 

Current research in her laboratory investigates the interactions between circadian rhythms and metabolism, particularly how the timing of exercise and nutrient intake affects metabolic health. Her work explores the temporal dynamics of skeletal muscle responses to exercise, mitochondrial function in diabetes, and how circadian biology can be leveraged for personalized exercise and dietary interventions The overarching goal of her work is to identify and validate molecular targets for pharmacological interventions and develop personalized exercise strategies that improve insulin sensitivity, ultimately alleviating complications and enhancing quality of life for people living with Type 2 diabetes.