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Faculty and Staff

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Joana Almaca

Joana Almaça, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Biography: Research ongoing in the Almaça’s lab focuses on understanding the role of the microvasculature in the biology of pancreatic islets. Islets are clusters of endocrine cells, scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas, which produce and secrete different hormones into the blood stream in response to changes in glucose levels. To function properly, islets need their microvasculature....
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Ruy Andrade Louzada Neto

Ruy Andrade Louzada Neto, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Biography: Dr. Ruy Andrade Louzada Neto is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has extensive experience in intracellular signaling and redox biology. His current research focuses on how NADPH oxidases, particularly DUOX1 and DUOX2, regulate pancreatic adaptation to stress,...
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David Baidal

David Baidal, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Baidal completed Internal Medicine Residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami in 2012. This was followed by a clinical and research fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, in 2015. After completion of his fellowship training, he returned to the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami. In his current...
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Rene Barro

Rene Barro-Soria, Ph.D.

Assistant Profesor
Publications
Biography: Rene Barro-Soria received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Regensburg, Germany, where he worked on identifying the molecular entity of the Ca2+activated Cl channel in epithelia. Thereafter, he studied chemosensory transduction in taste buds and ion channel function in the retina and cerebellum. In 2011, he joined the lab of Dr. H. Peter Larsson to study conformational...
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Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi

Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D.

Professor
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: His research over the last 15 years has focused on the regulation of pancreatic beta cell mass and function, with a particular interest in Akt and mTOR signaling pathways in beta cell proliferation. His laboratory has made major contributions to our understanding of signaling pathways that regulate beta cell expansion and survival. The long term goal of these signaling...
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Diego Caicedo Vierkant

Alejandro Caicedo-Vierkant, Ph.D.

Professor
Publications
Biography: During his training years in Germany and France Dr. Caicedo focused his research on the neuroanatomy of the auditory system at the brainstem level and inner ear. His main contribution to the field was to map the connections between the inferior colliculus and lower nuclei of the auditory brainstem using anterograde axonal tracing. During his postdoctoral training with...
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Ayse Canturk, M.D.

Ayse A. Canturk, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Biography: Dr. Ayse A. Canturk is a board-certified Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital.
She obtained her medical degree from Kocaeli University School of Medicine in Turkey and engaged in various public and global health projects. During her medical school education in Turkey, she received a scholarship from...
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Natalie Chamorro

Natalia Chamorro

Assistant Professor of Clinical

Biography: Dr. Natalia Chamorro is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, followed by fellowship training in Endocrinology at Massachusetts...
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Rodolfo Galindo

Rodolfo J. Galindo, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Publications
Biography: Dr. Rodolfo J. Galindo graduated from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Havana in 2005. Dr. Galindo completed his Internal Medicine residency and Endocrinology fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and North Shore University Hospital, in New York. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Galindo joined the faculty, as an Assistant Professor,...
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Zeina Hannoush, M.D.

Zeina C. Hannoush, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Zeina Carolina Hannoush is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela, followed by residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Endocrinology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was honored with the Professionalism and Outstanding Fellow...
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Khemraj Hirani

Khemraj Hirani, Ph.D., RPH, CCRP, CIP, RAC, MBA

Research Assistant Professor

Biography: Dr. Raj Hirani is an accomplished pharmacist-scientist and a key academic leader at the University of Miami, where he holds the position of Associate Vice Chair for Research and Regulatory Compliance in the Department of Medicine. His role at the University of Miami extends to serving as Deputy Director and Chief Regulatory and Operating Officer at the Diabetes Research...
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Gianluca Iacobellis, M.D., Ph.D.

Gianluca Iacobellis, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: A native of Rome, Italy, Prof Iacobellis received his MD degree cum laude in 1994 from the University of Roma, La Sapienza; he was a Research Fellow at the Centrum for Metabolism & Endocrinology, Karolinska University, Stockholm, Sweden in 1999; he became Specialist in Endocrinology in 2000 and obtained his PhD in Endocrinology, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disorders...
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Joana Lemos

Joana Lemos, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Publications
Biography: Dr. Joana R. N. Lemos is a distinguished clinical researcher and academic leader at the University of Miami’s Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). As Associate Director of Scientific Communications and Data Analytics, she plays a critical role in shaping scientific narratives, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, and advancing translational research efforts focused...
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Ricardo Pastori, M.D.

Ricardo Pastori, Ph.D.

Research Professor of Medicine, Immunology, and Microbiology
Publications
Biography: I am Research Professor (Department of Medicine) and the director of the Molecular Biology laboratory at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. My overall research interests focus on the development of translational molecular strategies for the advancement in type 1 diabetes treatment, including regenerative approaches for...
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Diana Soliman

Diana Soliman, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Biography: Diana Soliman, MD, MHS is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her medical degree, Med-Peds residency, and chief residency at the University of Miami, followed by fellowship and a T32 research fellowship at Duke University, where she also earned a Master of Health Sciences in...
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Ron Varghese, M.D.

Ron T. Varghese, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Publications
Biography: Ron Varghese is a clinician – investigator and endocrinologist with interest in obesity, sleep disorders and metabolism. He is an Assistant Professor in Endocrinology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has a keen interest in building a clinical and research career in Diabetes and Obesity Medicine; and in the treatment and management of complications...
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Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, FAAP, FACE

Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, FAAP, FACE

Professor & Chair, Department of Medicine
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Roy Weiss is the Chairman of the Department of Medicine and the Kathleen and Stanley Glaser Distinguished Chair in Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is also the Rabbi Morris I. Esformes Endowed Professor. As Chairman of the Department of Medicine (DOM) he is responsible for the research and scholarly activity and clinical enterprise...
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Staff Physicians

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Ashley Engel, M.D.

Staff Physician/Voluntary Faculty
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Silvia Gra Menendez, M.D.

Staff Physician/Voluntary Faculty
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Bresta Miranda, M.D.

Staff Physician/Voluntary Faculty
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Julio Pita, M.D.

Staff Physician
Nicholas Reyes

Nicholas Reyes, M.D.

Staff Physician

Biography: Nicolas Reyes received his medical degree at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He then completed his Internal Medicine Residency at HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, FL, followed by his fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.

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Anu Thekkumkattil, M.D.

Staff Physician
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Carmen Villabona, M.D.

Staff Physician/Voluntary Faculty

Biography: Carmen V. Villabona, M.D. is a board-certified endocrinologist. She graduated from the Facultad de Medicina at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain, completed residency at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, and pursued fellowship training in endocrinology at Rush University Medical Center. Her current research focuses on the Pituitary Tumor Registry Database at Sylvester Cancer Center, advancing knowledge in pituitary disease management.

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Maria Yanez-Bello, M.D.

Staff Physician/Voluntary Faculty

Voluntary Faculty

Alejandro Ayala, M.D.

Voluntary Faculty

Sabina Casula, M.D.

Voluntary Faculty

Tengjiao Cui, M.D.

Voluntary Faculty

Emeritus Faculty

Rodolfo Alejandro, M.D.

Professor

Alberto Pugliese, M.D.

Professor