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Dr Philip McTernan

Job Title
Associate Professor (Reader)
Department
WMS - Translational Medicine
Phone
024 7696 8587
Research Interests

Obesity is on the increase worldwide and in the majority of cases this increase will lead to type 2 diabetes. At present, 50% of the UK population is overweight and this percentage is set to increase. Fat accumulation around the abdomen is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (late onset diabetes). Fat is also known to produce a number of factors that are thought to increase this risk. Our team works on several of these factors to examine how they impact on the progression of the disease and its complications, such as hypertension and the risk of heart disease. We perform both clinical and laboratory patient based studies assessing the effects of risk factors on fat, as well as the role of drug treatment on reducing pathogenic factors produced by fat. As such, by researching the processes involved in the increase of the associated risk factors, our studies aim to provide a deeper understanding of how present drug therapy works in the body. In addition, our studies also evaluate novel drug therapeutic agents for future treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Current Research Aspects: The multidisciplinary team consists of 5 basic scientist PhD students, 6 clinical Research Fellows, 4 Postdoctoral research fellows, a Research Council Fellow, Visiting fellows, as well as cross clinical specialists and academic departments (Biology, Chemistry Maths, and Systems Biology). The following highlights key research areas: 1) Sub-clinical inflammation in pre- and post- diabetes 2) Obesity mediated hypertension 3) Appetite Control & its dysregulation in obesity 4) Ectopic fat Research 5) Premature ageing in diabetes. 6) Neuropeptides & Adipose tissue 7) Mitochondria, obesity & Diabetes 8) Adipocytokines 9) The 'Gut-Fat-Brain' Axis

Biography

As a Reader within the Diabetes and Metabolism team based on the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire Site within the Clinical Science Research Laboratories my main interest involves understanding causes for type 2 diabetes and potential therapeutic targets. The main aim of the team is to develop translational multidisciplinary medical research into obesity and type 2 diabetes. The current research programmes are exploring the underlying mechanisms that lead to the pathogenesis of obesity mediated type 2 diabetes. As such we have researchers within the team focussed on human metabolism examining several aspects such as: the importance of adipokines on human adipocyte signalling, mediators and mechanisms of inflammation, understanding the importance of diet and cell signalling in response to metabolic endotoxinaemia, the role of ectopic fat in the liver and heart, as well as using mathematical modelling of human adipocyte systems.

  • McTernan, P. G. (Philip G.), Kumar, Sudhesh, 2004. The link between obesity and diabetes. Barnett, A. H.; 1951- ;, (Anthony H.); Kumar, Sudhesh (eds.), Obesity and diabetes, Chichester, West Sussex, England ; Hoboken, NJ, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Title Funder Award start Award end
Freeze dried broccoli as a dietary intervention to reduce cardiometabolic risk in post-partum GDM women. Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation 01 Nov 2016 31 Jan 2020
A randomised control trial of the effect of weight loss in patients with and without type 2 diabetes following a 2 week low calorie diet and sleeve gatrectomy on inflammation and metabolic health Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau London 02 Feb 2016 31 Jan 2020
The role of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and its association with gestational diabetes mellitus and impact on inflammation King Saud University 30 Sep 2013 30 Sep 2017
Together driving 360 wellbeing Phase 1: A high level review of employee health risks, and associated business impact. Jaguar Land Rover 01 Feb 2017 31 Aug 2017
The origins of inflammation in human adipocytes King Saud University 01 Oct 2011 30 Sep 2015
King Saudi University Grant King Saud University 01 Oct 2010 30 Sep 2014
Investigation of dietary fats and Gut derived endotoxin as post-prandial triggers of systemic chronic low grade inflammation and ER stress Office of Educational Affairs, The Royal Thai Embassy 01 Oct 2010 30 Sep 2014
Philanthropic donation for diabetes research (The role of LP-PLA2 in inflammation ) Anonymous 18 Apr 2011 17 Apr 2013
Matched funding for philanthropic donation for diabetes research (The role of LP-PLA2 in inflammation ) Higher Education Funding Council for England 18 Apr 2011 17 Apr 2013
Role and regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) in diabetes AstraZeneca 01 Feb 2011 31 Jan 2012
Novo Nordisk Continuation Novo Nordisk A/S 01 Mar 2010 30 Sep 2010
Metabolic endotoxinaemia and inflammation in the pathogenesis of obesity associated diabetes AstraZeneca UK Limited 01 Oct 2008 30 Sep 2010
Regulation of RAS by insulin and TNFa in human adipocytes British Heart Foundation 01 Oct 2007 30 Sep 2010
Investigating Liraglutide as an Antioxidant and its Beneficial Effects to Type 2 Diabetic Patients Novo Nordisk A/S 01 Dec 2008 30 Nov 2009
The molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic treatment for obesity associated cardiovascular disease, hypertension and inflammation British Medical Association 01 Sep 2006 31 Aug 2008
Insulin resistance, adverse metabolic profile and premature ageing in type 2 diabetic patients. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation 01 Jun 2006 31 May 2008
Extension to Clinical Fellow in Gastro-enterology University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 08 May 2007 07 May 2008
Albert Renold Fellowship - Dr Ioannis Kyrou, Travel Grant European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) 01 Oct 2007 31 Dec 2007
Adiponectin as a Peripheral and central Metabolic Adipocytokine in Regulating Energy Homeostasis Dysregulated by Obesity and Diabetes Medical Research Fund of Warwick 01 Nov 2005 31 Oct 2007
Conference Travel Grant : The First Varna Nutrigenomics Meeting (ISAA) Royal Society 18 Oct 2007 21 Oct 2007
Prospective nested case-control study to evaluate sub-clinical inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk in the Whitehall II population The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation 01 Apr 2006 30 Sep 2007
Assessing Premature Ageing and Metabolic Profile Invasion Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Eli Lilly and Co Limited 01 Apr 2006 31 Mar 2007
The potential pathophysical effects of excess adiopose tissue on various systems in human obesity and type 2 diabetes. AstraZeneca 01 Jun 2005 31 Dec 2006
Defining the Molecular Mechanisms for Obesity Associated Hypertension and Inflammatory Disease Leading to Cardiovascular Pathology British Medical Association 01 Aug 2005 31 May 2006
Adiponectin in higher molecular structures in human cerebrospinal fluid: effect of obesity and Type 2 diabetes European Federation of Diabetes Studies (EFDS) 01 Oct 2005 31 Dec 2005
Investigation of Lipid Metabolism in Cardiovascular Disease Wellcome Trust 04 Jul 2005 26 Aug 2005
The Role of Adipocytokines in the Pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in obesity and type 2 diabetes Eli Lilly and Co Limited 01 Apr 2004 31 Mar 2005
Kirsty McGee - Vacation Studentship - Determining Severe Insulin Resistance Syndromes in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome Wellcome Trust 07 Jul 2004 01 Sep 2004