The research of Esther Phielix, Ph.D. focuses at the improvement of key metabolic disturbances seen in type 2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle and liver are of great interest because of their critically important contribution in maintaining physical function and metabolic health in the early phase as well as throughout the progression of the disease. Dr. Phielix’s research involves preclinical studies as well as translational mechanistic intervention studies in humans.

During her PhD under supervision of Prof. P. Schrauwen en Prof. M. Hesselink, Dr. Phielix investigated the role of lipotoxicity as underlying cause of metabolic disturbance, like insulin resistance and mitochondrial function in type 2 diabetes. In 2012, Dr. Phielix refocused from lipotoxicity towards the role of disturbed metabolism of branched-chain amino acids as pivotal factor in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. To support this line of research and to work out her new scientific hypothesis, Dr. Phielix was awarded with three prestigious research grants: a NWO VENI, an EFSD grant and a DFN senior fellowship.

Dr. Phielix collaborates nationally and internationally with several departments and institutes to perform high qualitative metabolic research.

With the performance of clinical and translational studies in humans, Dr. Phielix aims to uncover novel treatment strategies and underlying mechanisms to help prevent the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes. In personal life, she is a proud mother of twin boys and a daughter.