Roles
Research Associate Professor
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Biography
Dr. Manuel Blandino Rosano received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology (2002) and Biochemistry (2003) from the University of Seville, followed by a Master’s in Teaching (2004). He earned his Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Cádiz in 2009, where he studied the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on pancreatic ß-cell proliferation and survival using in vitro and in vivo models of type 1 diabetes. His doctoral work identified nitric oxide as a key mediator of cytokine-induced ß-cell dysfunction and demonstrated the protective effects of incretin-based therapies.
Dr. Blandino Rosano completed his postdoctoral training in Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes at the University of Michigan, where he investigated the role of nutrient-sensing pathways in islet development and function. His work established a crucial role for the mTOR pathway in pancreas development, ß-cell differentiation, and insulin secretion. It included the first genetic dissection of mTOR signaling in vivo through reconstitution studies. Following his postdoctoral fellowship, he was appointed Research Investigator at the University of Michigan before joining the University of Miami in 2015.
He is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. His laboratory focuses on pancreatic islet biology, with a particular emphasis on ß-cell heterogeneity, paracrine signaling, and the role of endogenous opioid peptides, such as dynorphin, in insulin secretion, ß-cell identity, and diabetes pathophysiology. His group integrates molecular biology, imaging, and multi-omics approaches to uncover mechanisms regulating islet function under both physiological and diabetogenic conditions.
Dr. Blandino Rosano is the principal investigator of an NIH R01 award (2023–2028) investigating the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor axis as a novel paracrine regulator of ß-cell function. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Diabetes, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Molecular Metabolism.
He is an active member of the American Diabetes Association and regularly serves as a reviewer and contributor to national and international scientific meetings. His research has been recognized through competitive fellowships, international collaborations, and NIH funding support. -
Education & Training
Education
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Publications
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