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

Dr. Rickels is the Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and Director for Clinical Science in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Director of the Penn Diabetes Research Center Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core. Dr. Rickels has extensive training and expertise in clinical and translational diabetes research, and also serves as Director of the Translational Research Program of IDOM, and as Associate Director of the CTSA-sponsored Center for Human Phenomic Science (CHPS) of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT). He has extensive experience with RIAs, ELISAs, HPLC, GC-MS, autoanalyzer and colorimetric biochemical assays of islet cell, incretin, and counterregulatory hormones, stable glucose isotopes, metabolites and inflammatory biomarkers in humans and non-human primates. Dr. Rickels is responsible for the strategic direction and scientific oversight of the RIA/Biomarkers Core.

Heather W. Collins, Ph.D.

Dr. Collins is the Technical Director of the Penn Diabetes Research Center Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core. Dr. Collins has over 30 years of laboratory experience and expertise in the development and application of novel immunoassay techniques. Dr. Collins handles the day-to-day operation of the RIA/Biomarkers Core with the support of Research Specialists Ms. Xiaolan Li, Ms. Brenda Spurgeon, and Ms. Huong-Lan Nguyen. Dr. Collins is responsible for the Core’s quality control/quality assurance/quality management processes and is the primary contact for consultative services and quotes and oversees the billing informatics.

Xiaolan Li

Ms. Li is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core. Ms. Li has over 25 years of laboratory experience in the performance of RIAs and ELISAs.

Brenda J. Spurgeon

Ms. Spurgeon is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core. Ms. Spurgeon has over 25 years of laboratory experience in the performance of RIAs and ELISAs.

Huong-Lan Nguyen

Ms. Nguyen is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core and in the Penn Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism Translational Research Program. Ms. Nguyen has over 20 years of laboratory experience in the performance of biochemical assays.