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Ronald Lynch, PhD, FAPS

Ronald M. Lynch, PhD, FAPS

University of Arizona

Ronald M. Lynch, PhD, FAPS, is a professor of physiology and director of the Arizona Research Institute for Biomedical Imaging at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. He is also an APS Councilor. He’s been an APS member since 1992.

APS members are doing amazing things. We asked Ronald M. Lynch, PhD, FAPS—one of our esteemed member-researchers—to tell us about his research and its implications on our understanding of life and health. He also discusses his passion for research and what he likes to do in his free time.

Describe your research

The β-cells of the pancreas secrete insulin after a meal to regulate blood sugar levels. Loss of function or mass of these cells underlies the sustained elevation of blood glucose which defines diabetes. My research is focused developing non-invasive imaging approaches to monitor β-cell mass and function in people with diabetes and also creating technologies for replacement of normal β-cells to reverse the disease.

Give it context

Loss of β-cell mass is the primary cause of juvenile diabetes. There are currently no methods to evaluate this loss during development of the disease or, for that matter, the effect of treatments on maintenance of β-cell mass. The technologies we are developing are geared to providing tools to analyze changes in β-cell mass over time and, if/when necessary, provide biological methods for insulin replacement rather than continual monitoring followed by insulin injection as is currently required.

What would you be doing if not science? Describe your passion.

I’m a firm believer of the adage “sound body, sound mind.” I’ve enjoyed sports and outdoor activity for all my life and, therefore, work hard to weave this into my personal routine. I also find traveling inspiring, particularly with family. My true passion, however, is my science and the relationships I’ve developed within that context.