David A. D'alessio MD

Dr. David A. D’Alessio is Professor of Medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine and Director of the Division of Endocrinology. He practices endocrinology at Duke Hospital and the Durham VA Medical Center. His primary research interest is in the regulation of glucose tolerance and food intake by gut hormones, and abnormalities in these processes that lead to type 2 diabetes. Work in his lab is directed at the interplay between endocrine, paracrine, and neural signals to control insulin secretion. His primary focus has been on proglucagon peptides, particularly glucagon and GLP-1,1, and their roles in physiology and pharmacology.

As the science underlying GLP-1 has generated considerable drug development, Dr. D’Alessio has taken an active role in clinical trials testing the effects of new compounds to lower blood glucose, cause weight loss, and reduce the risk of vascular disease. He and his colleagues receive research funding from the NIH as well as industry and foundational sources. He is Editor-in-Chief at the journal Diabetes, serves as the VA representative to the NIH NIDDK Council, and has contributed to expert panels writing guidelines for diabetes care.