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.
Novosyadlyy R, Kurshan N, Lann D, Vijayakumar A, Yakar S, LeRoith D, , . Insulin-like growth-factor-1 protects cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis via enhancement of the adaptive capacity of endoplasmic reticulum.. Cell Death Differ 2008; 15: 1304-1317.
Toyoshima Y, Monson C, Duan C, Wu Y, Gao C, Yakar S, Sadler KC, LeRoith D. The role of insulin receptor signaling in zebrafish embryogenesis.. Endocrinology 2008; 149: 5996-6005.
Yakar S, Rosen CJ, Bouxsein ML, Sun H, Mejia W, Kawashima Y, Wu Y, Emerton K, Williams V, Jepsen K, Schaffler MB, Majeska RJ, Gavrilova O, Gutierrez M, Hwang D, Pennisi P, Frystyk J, Boisclair Y, Pintar J, Jasper H, Domene H, Cohen P, Clemmons D, LeRoith D. Serum complexes of insulin-like growth factor-1 modulate skeletal integrity and carbohydrate metabolism.. FASEB J 2009; 23: 709-719.
Kawashima Y, Fritton JC, Yakar S, Epstein S, Schaffler MB, Jepsen K, LeRoith D. Type 2 diabetic mice demonstrate slender long bones with increased fragility secondary to increased osteoclastogenesis.. Bone 2009; 44: 648-655.
Kawashima Y, Chen H, Sun H, Lann D, Hajjar RJ, Yakar S, LeRoith D, . Apolipoprotein E deficiency abrogates insulin resistance in a mouse model Type 2 diabetes mellitus.. Diabetologia 2009 Jul; 52(7): 1434-1441.
Fan Y, Menon RK, Cohen P, Hwang D, Clemens T, Digirolamo DJ, Kopchick JJ, LeRoith D, Trucco M, Sperling MA. Liver-specific deletion of the growth hormone receptor reveals essential role of GH signaling in hepatic lipid metabolism.. J Biol Chem 2009 Jul; 284(30): 19937-19944.
Novosyadlyy R, Vijayakumar A, Lann D, Fierz Y, Kurshan N, LeRoith D. Physical and functional interaction between polyoma virus middle T antigen and insulin and IGF-1 receptors is required for oncogene activation and tumour initiation.. Oncogene 2009 Oct; 28(39): 3477-3486.
Wu Y, Sun H, Yakar S, LeRoith D, . Elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 in serum resuce the severe growth retardation of IGF-1 null mice.. Endocrinology 2009; 150: 4395-4403.
Novosyadlly R, Lann DE, Vijayakumar A, Rowzee A, Lazzarino DA, Fierz Y, Carboni JM, Gottardis MM, Pennisi PA, Molinolo AA, Kurshan N, Mejia W, Santopietro S, Yakar S, Wood TL, LeRoith D. Insulin-mediated acceleration of breast cancer development and progression in a non-obese model of type 2 diabetes.. Cancer Research 2010 Jan; 70(2): 741-751.
Fierz Y, Novosyadlly R, Vijayakumar A, LeRoith D, . Insulin sensitizing therapy abrogates accelerated breast cancer progression in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.. Diabetes 2010; 59: 686-693.
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.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. LeRoith during 2017 and/or 2018. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Scientific Advisory Board:
- AstraZeneca; Merck & Co., Inc.; Oramed Pharmaceuticals
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.