University of Arizona · PharmacologyCholesterol Connections Lab
Gregory R. J Thatcher · Tucson, Arizona
Research Focus
Dr. Gregory R. J. Thatcher's lab at the University of Arizona focuses on understanding how certain genetic factors and metabolic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, are interconnected. They aim to develop new drugs that can treat Alzheimer's by enhancing cholesterol metabolism without causing weight gain or other side effects. The lab uses a variety of animal models to test these potential treatments and investigate their effects on brain health.
Alzheimer's diseasetype 2 diabetescholesterol metabolismdrug discoverymetabolic diseasesABCA1insulin resistanceinflammationmouse models
Research Aims
4AIM 01Optimize nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers that enhance cholesterol mobilization.
AIM 02Conduct in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies to assess safety and efficacy.
AIM 03Evaluate the efficacy of treatments in mouse models with different APOE genotypes.
AIM 04Identify potential drug interactions and safety concerns through pretox studies.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelingin vivo pharmacokineticscell culturePCRimmunoassaymetabolomic analysisreporter assayspharmacodynamicsbioinformaticshigh-fat diet studies
Output against the department
Publications313top 26% of dept.118th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.7kbottom 46% of dept.248th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.