Dr. Jannette M. Dufour is a University Distinguished Professor, Welch Foundation Endowed Chair in Biochemistry, Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and Co-Director of the Center of Excellence in Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research in the School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She is a graduate of the Executive Leader in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program. Her research is focused on Sertoli cell (SC) immune regulation and diabetes. Specifically on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of SC-mediated immune modulation to enhance the survival of transplanted insulin-expressing cells to treat diabetes and prevent autoimmune destruction of germ cells. She also has several collaborations on the use of bioactive compounds to treat diabetes and its complications.

Her research has been funded by several national and local agencies including the NIH, American Diabetes Association, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, The Jasper L. and Jack Denton Wilson Foundation, and Ted Nash Long Life Foundation, and has been selected for the cover photo for Cell Transplantation (2008), Spermatogenesis (2012), DNA and Cell Biology (2018) and Biomedicines (2023), and highlighted in Biology of Reproduction (2014) and Nature Medicine (2018). She has been invited to give seminars at several universities as well as at national and international meetings, including the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (2022, 2024), American Society of Andrology (ASA; 2007, 2016, 2023), Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR; 2012, 2016), Texas Forum for Reproductive Sciences (2016, 2026), NIAID (2017) and NIEHS (2017). She has received the Dean's Basic Science Teaching Award (2017, 2024), the President's Team Teaching Award (2019, 2020), the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dean’s Teaching Award (2023), and the President’s Teaching Award (2025). Dr. Dufour is a member of SSR and ASA, where she has served on several committees including the SSR Program Committee (Co-Chair for the 2020 and 2021 meetings), the ASA Executive Council (2015-2018, 2025-2028) and Nominating Committee (2019-2021 and 2022-2024). Additionally, she is a member of the North American Testis Workshop Executive Committee (2022-present).

Interests

Diabetes

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Driven by a Mission

Jannette Marie Dufour

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