Dr. Vincenza Cifarelli, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, United States.
π Vincenza Cifarelli, PhD is an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on vascular and lymphatic endothelium in metabolic health, tissue remodeling, and inflammation. She has received prestigious grants, including NIH and NSF funding, and has authored high-impact publications in Nature Communications, JCI, and Gastroenterology. Her groundbreaking studies on lipid metabolism, obesity, and lymphatic function have earned her multiple awards, including the Altschul Lectureship Award and President Research Fund. ππ¬
π Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Vincenza Cifarelli embarked on her academic journey at UniversitΓ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, where she earned an MS in Bioscience and Biotechnology (2005). She further pursued a Ph.D. in Diabetes at the University of Pittsburgh (2011), focusing on endothelial dysfunction and monocyte activation in children with Type 1 Diabetes. Following her doctoral studies, she undertook postdoctoral research at The University of Texas, Austin (2012), and NIH-funded training at Washington University, St. Louis (2014), where she deepened her expertise in obesity and lipid metabolism.
πΌ Professional Endeavors
Dr. Cifarelli embarked on a postdoctoral journey at The University of Texas, Austin, focusing on diabetes and cancer in 2012. She further honed her expertise in metabolism at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, under an NIH T32 training grant, exploring obesity-related mechanisms until 2014. Her career trajectory led her to Washington Universityβs School of Medicine, where she progressed from Instructor (2015-2018) to Research Assistant Professor of Medicine (2018-2021) at the Center for Human Nutrition. In 2022, she joined Saint Louis University School of Medicine as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology.
π¬ Contributions and Research Focus On lipidΒ
Dr. Cifarelliβs research program is centered on the intricate relationship between vascular and lymphatic endothelium, lipid metabolism, and inflammation in metabolic disorders. Her significant contributions include identifying bi-directional regulation between lipid metabolism and lymphatics using innovative preclinical models. She has led pioneering studies on adipose tissue oxygenation, inflammation, and obesity pathophysiology. Through cutting-edge techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, and confocal imaging, her laboratory continues to unravel mechanisms linking lymphatic dysfunction and adipose tissue remodeling.
π Impact and Influence
Dr. Cifarelliβs work has made a profound impact on the fields of metabolic disease and endothelial biology. Her research has expanded the understanding of lipid metabolismβs role in lymphatic function, influencing both basic science and translational medicine. As a faculty member, she actively contributes to academic committees, serving as a member of the Admission Committee for the MD/PhD program and the PhD Core Program in Biomedical Sciences at SLU-SOM. Her work continues to inform therapeutic strategies for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
π Academic Citations
Dr. Cifarelli has published extensively in high-impact journals, with key contributions in Nature Communications, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Gastroenterology, and Journal of Lipid Research. Her studies on lymphatic endothelial function, insulin signaling, and lipid metabolism have received wide recognition and citations, positioning her as a leading expert in her domain.
π
Awards and HonorsΒ
Dr. Cifarelli has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including:
- 2024 President Research Fund, SLU-SOM
- 2023 Altschul Lectureship Award, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
- 2023 SLU Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation Pilot & Feasibility Award, IDBI
- 2018-2019 Digestive Disease Research Cores Center (DDRCC) Pilot & Feasibility Award
- 2015-2017 Nutrition and Obesity Research Core (NORC) Pilot & Feasibility Award
- 2013-2014 T32 Cardiovascular Training Grant, Washington University
- 2009-2011 Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Childrenβs Hospital of Pittsburgh
- 2018 Roger Davis Investigator Award for Transitional Faculty, KERN Conference
- 2017 & 2015 Lymphatic Education and Research Network Travel Award
Her accolades reflect her exceptional contributions to metabolic and endothelial research, solidifying her legacy as a leading scientist in the field.
π Legacy and Future Contributions
With her ongoing NIH and NSF-funded projects, Dr. Cifarelli is paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries in endothelial and metabolic research. She is at the forefront of developing innovative models to understand lipid-lymphatic interactions, with potential clinical applications in treating metabolic syndromes. Her commitment to mentorship and academic leadership ensures a lasting impact on future generations of researchers.
Publications Top Notes
π The intestinal lymphatic system: functions and metabolic implications
βοΈ V Cifarelli, A Eichmann
π Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 7(3), 503-513
π’ Citations: 154 π Year: 2019
π Associations among adipose tissue immunology, inflammation, exosomes and insulin sensitivity in obesity & NAFLD
βοΈ A Fuchs, D Samovski, GI Smith, V Cifarelli, et al.
π Gastroenterology 161(3), 968-981.e12
π’ Citations: 124 π Year: 2021
π Human C-peptide antagonizes high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction via NF-ΞΊB pathway
βοΈ P Luppi, V Cifarelli, et al.
π Diabetologia 51, 1534-1543
π’ Citations: 123 π Year: 2008
π Decreased adipose tissue oxygenation associates with insulin resistance in obesity
βοΈ V Cifarelli, SC Beeman, GI Smith, et al.
π JCI 130(12), 6688-6699
π’ Citations: 121 π Year: 2020
π Intestinal CD36 & lipid utilization: role in absorption and gut homeostasis
βοΈ V Cifarelli, NA Abumrad
π Comprehensive Physiology 8(2), 493
π’ Citations: 118 π Year: 2018
π Metformin & rapamycin reduce pancreatic cancer growth in obese prediabetic mice via microRNA-regulated mechanisms
βοΈ V Cifarelli, LM Lashinger, et al.
π Diabetes 64(5), 1632-1642
π’ Citations: 97 π Year: 2015
π Visceral obesity & insulin resistance associate with CD36 deletion in lymphatic endothelial cells
βοΈ V Cifarelli, S Appak-Baskoy, et al.
π Nature Communications 12(1), 3350
π’ Citations: 93 π Year: 2021
π Human proinsulin C-peptide reduces high glucose-induced proliferation & NF-ΞΊB activation in vascular smooth muscle cells
βοΈ V Cifarelli, P Luppi, et al.
π Atherosclerosis 201(2), 248-257
π’ Citations: 93 π Year: 2008
π C-peptide reduces endothelial cell apoptosis & reactive oxygen species generation in high glucose conditions
βοΈ V Cifarelli, X Geng, et al.
π Diabetologia 54, 2702-2712
π’ Citations: 92 π Year: 2011
π CD36 Deficiency impairs small intestinal barrier & induces subclinical inflammation
βοΈ V Cifarelli, S Ivanov, et al.
π CMGH 3(1), 82-98
π’ Citations: 54 π Year: 2017
π VEGFR-3 signaling regulates triglyceride retention & absorption in intestine
βοΈ T Shew, NE Wolins, V Cifarelli
π Frontiers in Physiology 9, 1783
π’ Citations: 30 π Year: 2018
π Obesity, diabetes & cancer: a mechanistic perspective
βοΈ V Cifarelli, SD Hursting
π Int. J. Diabetology & Vascular Disease Research
π’ Citations: 13 π Year: 2015
π The role of the lymphatic system in lipid & energy metabolism, and immune homeostasis during obesity & diabetes
βοΈ V Cifarelli, H Chen, JP Scallani
π Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids
π Year: 2022