Dr. Matthew Merrins

Biography

Matthew J. Merrins is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale School of Medicine. His research focuses on the understanding of nutrient sensing coupled with hormone secretion in pancreatic islet cells. The primary focus of his laboratory is the application of fluorescence microscopy to study cellular metabolism in real-time. The lab has expertise in various imaging modalities, including spinning disk confocal, total internal reflection fluorescence, stimulated emission depletion, multi-photon, and light-sheet microscopy. Merrins is known for his work on β-cell glucose sensing and the discovery of glycolytic metabolons that locally produce signals to initiate insulin secretion. His translational research is centered on targeting the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Merrins is also involved in multiple graduate programs, contributing to the training of researchers and educators in STEM fields. He teaches endocrinology and metabolism to undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, and is a co-founder of State 4 Therapeutics, a Yale-based company focused on obesity pharmacotherapeutics.

Research Interests