Richard M Mortensen
Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Richard M Mortensen
Professor
Manage Your Profile
About
We have been investigation the role of obesity, diabetes and metabolite function in cardiovascular disease. Focus has been on the function of PPAR-gamma, mineralocorticoid receptor, inflammation, and the metabolite, itaconate.
Center Memberships
-
Center MemberSamuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center
-
Center MemberCenter for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
-
Center MemberCaswell Diabetes Institute
Research Overview
Metabolism and cardiovascular disease
Inflammation and Mineralocorticoid Receptor
PPAR-gamma function
Recent Publications
-
Natarajan SK, Lum J, Skeans JH, Nenwani M, Eyunni S, Mota M, Bayliss JM, Deogharkar A, Hamanishi ET, Pun M, Sweha SR, Hoffman S, Young E, Zhang Q, Mehta R, Animasahun O, Narayanan P, Sunil S, Parolia A, Sajjakulnukit P, Panwalkar P, Doherty R, Clausen M, Dang D, Hawes D, Yang F, Santi M, Judkins AR, Wilson Y, Vigil T, Franson A, Mortensen RM, Ozawa T, Griesinger A, Holland EC, Foreman NK, Michealraj KA, Agnihotri S, Taylor M, Gilbertson RJ, Koschmann C, Chinnaiyan AM, Lyssiotis CA, Nagrath D, Venneti S. Nature, 2026 Jan 1;Journal ArticleZFTA–RELA ependymomas make itaconate to epigenetically drive fusion expression
DOI:10.1038/s41586-025-10005-1 -
Ramakrishnan SK, Zhang H, Ma X, Jung I, Schwartz AJ, Triner D, Devenport SN, Das NK, Xue X, Zeng MY, Hu Y, Mortensen RM, Greenson JK, Cascalho M, Wobus CE, Colacino JA, Nunez G, Rui L, Shah YM. Nature Communications, 2025 Dec 1; 16 (1):Journal ArticleCorrection to: Intestinal non-canonical NFκB signaling shapes the local and systemic immune response (Nature Communications, (2019), 10, 1, (660), 10.1038/s41467-019-08581-8)
DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-61581-9 PMID: 40628801 -
Lin H, Tison K, Du Y, Kirchhoff P, Kim C, Wang W, Yang H, Pitter M, Yu J, Liao P, Zhou J, Vatan L, Grove S, Wei S, Vigil T, Shah YM, Mortensen R, Kryczek I, Garmire L, Sivaccumar JP, Ramesh AK, Zhang N, An Z, Wang S, Zou W. The Journal of Immunology, 2025 Nov 23; 214 (Supplement_1):Proceeding / Abstract / PosterItaconate transporter SLC13A3 impairs tumor immunity via endowing ferroptosis resistance 2251
DOI:10.1093/jimmun/vkaf283.189 -
Lei I, Sicim H, Gao W, Huang W, Noly PE, Pergande MR, Wilson MC, Lee A, Liu L, Abou El Ela A, Jiang M, Saddoughi SA, Pober JS, Platt JL, Cascalho M, Pagani FD, Chen YE, Pitt B, Wang Z, Mortensen RM, Ge Y, Tang PC. Nature Cardiovascular Research, 2025 Jun 1; 4 (6): 710 - 726.Journal ArticleMineralocorticoid receptor phase separation modulates cardiac preservation
DOI:10.1038/s44161-025-00653-x -
El-Derany MO, Ramakrishnan SK, Li Y, Buscher K, Jarad CA, Schaller ML, Cantwell M, Vigil TM, Frieler RA, Sajjakulnukit P, Lyssiotis CA, Mortensen RM, Shah YM. Plos One, 2025 May 1; 20 (5 May):Journal ArticleItaconate potentiates hepatic gluconeogenesis through NRF2 induction
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0322946 PMID: 40323920 -
Lin H, Tison K, Du Y, Kirchhoff P, Kim C, Wang W, Yang H, Pitter M, Yu J, Liao P, Zhou J, Vatan L, Grove S, Wei S, Vigil T, Shah YM, Mortensen R, Kryczek I, Garmire L, Sivaccumar JP, Ramesh AK, Zhang N, An Z, Wang S, Zou W. Cancer Cell, 2024 Dec 9; 42 (12): 2032 - 2044.e6.Journal ArticleItaconate transporter SLC13A3 impairs tumor immunity via endowing ferroptosis resistance
DOI:10.1016/j.ccell.2024.10.010 PMID: 39515327 -
Li Y, Singh S, Breckenridge HA, Cui TX, Vigil TM, Kreger JE, Lei J, Wong HKA, Sajjakulnukit P, Zhou X, Kelley Bentley J, Lyssiotis CA, Mortensen RM, Hershenson MB. Mucosal Immunology, 2024 Dec 1; 17 (6): 1174 - 1183.Journal ArticleItaconate suppresses house dust mite-induced allergic airways disease and Th2 cell differentiation
DOI:10.1016/j.mucimm.2024.08.001 PMID: 39147278 -
Lei I, Huang W, Sicim H, Noly P, Pergande MR, Wilson MC, Gao W, Liu L, Abou A, Jiang M, Saddoughi S, Platt JL, Cascalho M, Pober JS, Pagani FD, Chen Y, Pitt B, Wang Z, Mortensen RM, Ge Y, Tang PC. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2024 Apr 12; 43 (4): s246 - s247.Journal Article(495) Hypothermic Physical Phase Transition of Mineralocorticoid Receptors Determine Donor Heart Function
DOI:10.1016/j.healun.2024.02.1140
Featured News & Stories
Points of Blue
Dr. Rick Mortensen on Leading in the Classroom and the Lab
Dr. Rick Mortensen has shaped generations of Michigan medical students through decades of steady leadership in endocrine education. In this month’s Featured Educator spotlight, he reflects on how a junior faculty teaching role at Brigham and Women’s Hospital sparked a lifelong commitment to medical education, and why engaged students continue to energize his work today.
