Dr. Blake Hill

Biography

Blake Hill is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in the study of micro- and macrovascular complications associated with diabetes. His research, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Widlansky, focuses on the pathological effects of mitochondrial fragmentation driven by the upregulation of the mitochondrial fission protein Fis1. Notably, their studies have demonstrated that this upregulation is specific to diabetic patients and correlates with vascular endothelial dysfunction. By utilizing techniques such as siRNA to downregulate Fis1, Hill has provided insight into the mechanisms of vasodilation in both healthy and diabetic vessels. His work has led to the design of a novel peptide inhibitor of Fis1, named pep213, which exhibits significant affinity and potential therapeutic properties. The findings from his research indicate that Fis1 could serve as a promising target for addressing the vascular complications that arise from diabetes, with broader implications for improving patient outcomes.

Research Interests