Phillip White is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition at the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University. He performed his undergraduate research with Mark Febbraio at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Australia before travelling to Quebec City, to conduct his graduate studies with André Marette at Université Laval. Upon completion of his PhD, Phillip headed to North Carolina to work with Chris Newgard to define mechanisms connecting perturbed BCAA metabolism with metabolic disease. Phillip established the White-McGarrah lab in 2018 with his physician scientist colleague Robert McGarrah. The White-McGarrah Lab conducts both translational and basic research projects with the goal of uncovering innovative approaches for the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. The lab is particularly interested in understanding how dysregulation of metabolic regulatory mechanisms and inter-organ crosstalk contributes to the pathophysiology of diabetes, NAFLD, and heart failure. Phillip’s work is supported by a Pathway to Stop Diabetes Award from the American Diabetes Association.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. To understand the diverse mechanisms responsible for perturbed systemic BCAA metabolism in obesity.
2. To identify molecular mechanisms connecting BCAA to metabolic health