We are thrilled to welcome Kristen Rohli, PhD as our new Research Manager! Kristen’s impressive educational experience working in biochemistry, psychology, and genetics makes her an excellent addition to our research team. Continue reading to learn more about Kristen!
I grew up in Baton Rouge and chose to go to Louisiana State University (LSU) for my undergraduate studies (Geaux Tigers!). At LSU, I earned dual degrees in biochemistry and psychology. I have always been interested in the molecular processes and working of cells which drew me to the biochemical aspect of my education, but I also had a deep interest in the outcomes of incorrect biochemical processing on development and behavior, which inspired me to pursue psychology as well. During these years, I worked in Susan Burke’s lab at Pennington Biomedical Research Center studying Type 2 diabetes and the relationships between genetics, obesity, and aging to this disease. This topic was of interest and importance to me because Louisiana has a particularly high rate of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, so working on advancements in this field was a way I could give back to my community.
After graduation, I moved to Iowa City to begin the Genetics program at the University of Iowa. Here, I worked in the lab of Sam Stephens, which focuses on pancreatic islet biology and regulation of insulin secretion. My thesis work highlighted the value of genetically-encoded biosensors to identify a novel pathway relating metabolic dysfunction to defects in insulin secretion that contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes. I graduated in May 2024 with my Ph.D.
I was drawn to Congenital Hyperinsulinism International for several reasons. First, I have enjoyed research in pancreatic biology, and working with CHI allows me to continue this education but with a different perspective. Rather than focusing on a disease with diminished insulin secretion, I am now challenged with learning about the whole-body effects of increased insulin secretion and treatment mechanisms for hyperinsulinism. Second, after years of mouse work at LSU and Iowa, I am ready to apply my studies to human research in an effort to improve patient outcomes. Third, rare diseases have been an interest of mine since I was a child. Growing up, my favorite show was Mystery Diagnosis, and I was in awe of the many ways our bodies respond to even the smallest changes such as a single mutation in our DNA. I looked forward to coming home from school, watching an episode, and learning more about the diseases described during the show. Now that I am working for a rare disease organization, I will be able to contribute to research that will lead to early diagnosis and treatment for HI patients.
I am very excited to be working at CHI. I am most looking forward to meeting the families affected by hyperinsulinism. I have watched many of the HI-Story interviews videos on the CHI website of how HI has impacted different families, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a group dedicated to improving awareness, diagnostics, treatments, and cures for this disease.
In my spare time, you’ll find me somewhere outside. Nearly every day I try to find a walk, trail, or hike to explore. On a sunny day, I enjoy picking up the latest popular book and an iced latte and reading in a park. When it’s not too hot, I like to run, and I’m working toward the goal of running a race in every state. My favorite travel trip was going to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in winter 2023.
We are thrilled to have you on Team CHI, Kristen, and are so excited for what is in store!
