Internationally known for his research in Diabetes, Derek LeRoith, MD, PhD, is Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Diseases) and Interim Chief of the Hilda & J. Lester Gabrilove Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bones Diseases. Dr. LeRoith received his MD and PhD from the University of Capetown where he also completed his residency and both a research and clinical fellowship in Endocrinology. Prior to joining the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2005, Dr. LeRoith was Chief of the Diabetes Branch at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This is the largest program devoted to the study of diabetes within the intramural program of the NIH. He was recruited to Mount Sinai to become the Chief of the Endocrine Division at Mount Sinai as well as the Director of the Metabolism Institute. In 2010 he became the Director of Research forthe Division of Endocrinology before returning to his duties as chief in 2015.
Dr. LeRoith was the first to demonstrate the link between insulin and the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and cancer and is the current recipient of an three NCI grants to study the relationship between cancer and type 2 diabetes. He has published over 600 original research papers, reviews and editorials and edited a number of books on Diabetes and IGF-related topics. He is also the senior editor of a major textbook on Diabetes, now in its third edition, as well as Editor-in-Chief of Endocrine Practice, the official journal of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Please visit the Leroith Laboratory.
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In the News
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Dr. LeRoith discusses awareness and prevention of diabetes in The Daily News feature The Daily Check Up. View the PDF.
Read the commentary by Derek LeRoith, MD, PhD, "Sugar Tax May Sour New York's Thirst for Soda" that appeared in the New York Times on May 4, 2010.
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Immunology [IMM]Education
PhD, University of Cape Town
The Middlesex Hospital
Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factors
Specific Clinical/Research Interest:
The role of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors in pathological states including diabetes, growth, bone disorders and cancer.
Postdoctoral Fellows: Nyosha Alikhani, Rosalyn Ferguson, Emily Gallagher
Research Faculty: Ying-Jie Wu, PhD
Research Personnel: Hui Sun
Summary of Research Studies:
The laboratory of Derek LeRoith, MD, PhD, focuses on understanding the insulin and insulin-like growth factors in disease states. His current research includes studies using animal models of Type 2 diabetes and understanding the pathophysiology of the disorder as well as response to various established and newly discovered therapies. Using these models the laboratory is studying the effects of hyperlipidemia on the progression of the disease as well as on the vascular complications. These studies involve both phenotyping the metabolic responses using in vivo techniques such as hyperglycemic-euglycemic clamps, as well as in vitro cell culture studies on inflammatory cells and adipocytokines that are involved in the vascular complications. In addition, this model is being used to study the effects of diabetes on bone, a common disorder. Another set of studies involves the insulin-like growth factor system and its role in cancer. These involve both cell culture studies of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signaling pathways that affect cell cycle proteins, ER stress, cell survival, migration and cell proliferation. The animal models include gene-deletion studies of the IGF system; both IGF-1 and the IGF-1 receptor and effects on breast and colon cancer and metastases. These and other on-going studies are expected to identify novel targets for cancer therapy.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. LeRoith did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2020 and/or 2021: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.