Michael R. Rickels, M.D., M.S.

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Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
Medical Director, Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplant Program, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Associate Director, Center for Human Phenomic Science (formerly the Clinical & Translational Research Center), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Director, Translational Research Program, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Director, Radioimmunoassay and Biomarkers Core, Diabetes Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Director, Clinical Science, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Department: Medicine

Contact information
12-134 Smilow Center for Translational Research
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pa 19104
Office: (215) 746-0025
Fax: (215) 898-5408
Education:
B.A. (Mathematics major & Biology minor, Summa Cum Laude)
Colgate University , 1995.
M.D. (Top of the class)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1999.
M.S. (Translational Research)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2007.
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Description of Research Expertise

Dr. Rickels conducts patient-oriented diabetes research that aims at understanding the pathogenesis of various forms of diabetes and the in vivo mechanisms of new diabetes treatments. Dr. Rickels' research program is in particular focused on islet function and replacement in type 1 diabetes and pancreatogenic forms of diabetes such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Dr. Rickels' studies involve methodologies for quantifying insulin and incretin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and glucose counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia, and include oral glucose and mixed-meal tolerance tests, the frequently-sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, the glucose-potentiated arginine test, and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic and hypoglycemic clamps incorporating stable glucose isotopes for determination of tissue specific insulin action and glucose counterregulatory mechanisms. Present work in type 1 diabetes is focused on understanding the mechanisms of defective glucose counterregulation and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and novel approaches to the prevention or correction of hypoglycemia, including by beta-cell replacement (islet transplantation) therapy or artificial pancreas (closed-loop) technology. Present work in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is directed at understanding the pathophysiology involved in the etiology of early defects in insulin secretion and the impact of different strategies for enhancing incretin effects on beta-cell function.

Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr. Rickels specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, hypoglycemia disorders, and general endocrinologic problems. Dr. Rickels predominantly cares for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and is particularly interested in pancreas and islet allotransplantation as therapies for type 1 diabetes, as well as islet autotransplantation for patients undergoing pancreatectomy. Coupled to his research interests in islet function and transplantation as well as closed-loop insulin delivery technology, Dr. Rickels is committed to translating complimentary approaches for cellular and artificial pancreas replacement as treatments for patients with difficult to control type 1 and pancreatogenic diabetes.

Selected Publications

Flatt AJ, Sheikh S, Peleckis AJ, Alvarado P, Hadjiliadis D, Stefanovski D, Gallop RJ, Rubenstein RC, Kelly A, Rickels MR: Preservation of beta-cell function in pancreatic insufficient cystic fibrosis with highly effective CFTR modulator therapy. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 109(1): 151-160, January 2024.

Riddell MC, Li Z, Gal RL, Calhoun P, Jacobs PG, Clements M, Martin CK, Doyle FJ III, Patton SR, Castle JR, Gillingham MB, Beck RW, Rickels MR; T1DEXI Study Group: Examining the acute glycemic effects of different types of structured exercise sessions in type 1 diabetes in a real-world setting: The Type 1 Diabetes and Exercise Initiative (T1DEXI). Diabetes Care 46(4): 704-713, April 2023.

Flatt AJ, Peleckis AJ, Dalton-Bakes C, Nguyen HL, Ilany S, Matus A, Malone SK, Goel N, Jang S, Weimer J, Lee I, Rickels MR: Automated insulin delivery for hypoglycemia avoidance and glucose counterregulation in long-standing type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemia unawareness. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics 25(5): 302-314, May 2023 Notes: Commentary by Amiel SA. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2023 May 1;25(5):299-301.

Nyirjesy SC, Peleckis AJ, Eiel JN, Gallagher K, Doliba A, Tami A, Flatt AJ, De Leon DD, Hadjiliadis D, Sheikh S, Stefanovski D, Gallop R, D’Alessio DA, Rubenstein RC, Kelly A, Rickels MR: Effects of GLP-1 and GIP on islet function in glucose intolerant, pancreatic insufficient cystic fibrosis. Diabetes 71(10): 2153-2165, October 2022.

Flatt AJ, Chen E, Peleckis AJ, Dalton-Bakes C, Nguyen HL, Collins HW, Millar JS, Gallop RJ, Rickels MR: Evaluation of clinical metrics for identifying defective physiologic responses to hypoglycemia in long-standing type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics 24(10): 737-748, October 2022.

Rickels MR, Eggerman TL, Bayman L, Qidwai JC, Alejandro R, Bridges ND, Hering BJ, Markmann JF, Senior PA, Hunsicker LG; Clinical Islet Transplantation Consortium: Long-term outcomes with islet-alone and islet-after-kidney transplantation for type 1 diabetes in the Clinical Islet Transplantation Consortium: The CIT-08 Study. Diabetes Care 45(12): 2967-2975, December 2022.

Kelly A, Sheikh S, Stefanovski D, Peleckis AJ, Nyirjesy SC, Eiel JN, Sidaye A, Localio R, Gallop R, De Leon DD, Hadjiliadis D, Rubenstein RC, Rickels MR: Effect of sitagliptin on islet function in pancreatic insufficient cystic fibrosis with abnormal glucose tolerance. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 106(9): 2617-2634, September 2021 Notes: Commentary by Ismail HM. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Oct 21;106(11):e4786-e4788.

Flatt AJS, Greenbaum CJ, Shaw JAM, Rickels MR: Pancreatic islet reserve in type 1 diabetes. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1495(1): 40-54, July 2021.

Riddell MC, Li Z, Beck RW, Gal RL, Jacobs PG, Castle JR, Gillingham MB, Clements M, Patton SR, Dassau E, Doyle FJ, Martin CK, Calhoun P, Rickels MR: More time in glucose range during exercise days than sedentary days in adults living with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics 23(5): 376-383, May 2021.

Rickels MR, Norris AW, Hull RL: A tale of two pancreases: exocrine pathology and endocrine dysfunction. Diabetologia 63(10): 2030-2039, October 2020.

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Last updated: 03/25/2024
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