Philip A. Kern, MD

Philip A. Kern, MD, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and co-director, Clinical Research Development and Operations Center (CR-DOC), was recently recruited to UK to serve as director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center. He is professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology.

Dr. Kern has been involved in the development of CTSA programs at UK and at his previous institution, the University of Arkansas. He has a background in research administration, a long history as a GCRC co-director, clinical program development in obesity and diabetes, and a 20+ year continuous track record of NIH funding. Dr. Kern is engaged in both basic and clinical research related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Clinical studies have examined adipose tissue and muscle gene expression in relation to insulin resistance, tissue lipotoxicity and inflammation in obesity related insulin resistance. Other research involves the gene expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), an important enzyme in adipose tissue that is involved in triglyceride metabolism, diabetes, and obesity.

Dr. Kern is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), the Association of American Physicians (AAP), and the American Diabetes Association.