David P Olson, MD, PhD

 labcoat
David Murray Cowie M.D.
Research Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Medical School
Available to mentor
David P Olson, MD, PhD
labcoat
Professor
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications

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    • About

    Dr. Olson is a physician scientist with clinical training in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. He leads a research laboratory focused on dissecting the neural mechanisms of energy balance control and metabolism. He is Co-director of the T32 training grant in Pediatric Endocrinology and is the Director of the Michigan Diabetes Research Center's Molecular Genetics Core.

    Qualifications
    • Fellow
      Boston Children's Hospital, Pediatrics, Boston, United States
      2002 - 2005
      Other
    • Resident
      Boston Children's Hospital, Pediatrics, Boston, United States
      1999 - 2002
      Residency

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Caswell Diabetes Institute

    Research Overview

    The Olson lab is committed to determining the mechanisms by which the brain regulates feeding, energy expenditure, body weight and glucose metabolism. Our research uses advanced molecular genetic techniques to manipulate discrete subsets of neurons in the hypothalamus and hindbrain. Using rodent models, we aim to determine the role that specific neurons play in energy homeostasis, feeding behavior and peripheral glucose handling.

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Preprint
      Molecularly defined subpopulations of leptin receptor neurons dissociate the control of food intake from blood pressure.
      Duensing AM, Belmont-Rausch D, Tomlinson AJ, Crowley A, Sass F, Heaton E, Coester B, Brown JM, Hassan S, Wu Z, Qi N, Olson DP, Sabatini PV, Myers MG, Pers TH. 2026 Mar 26; DOI:10.64898/2026.03.26.714551
      PMID: 41929005
    • Journal Article
      Natural history of pituitary incidentalomas in pediatric patients: a single-center, retrospective analysis.
      Waselewski AC, Walsh LM, Holste KG, Olson DP, Garton HJL. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2026 Feb 4; DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgag047
      PMID: 41637571
    • Journal Article
      Differential Longitudinal Effects of Glucose-Lowering Medications on Glucagon and C-peptide Responses in the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study (GRADE).
      Kahn SE, Tripputi M, Lachin JM, Balasubramanyam A, Banerji MA, Barzilay J, Cohen RM, Garvey WT, Gramzinski MR, Rasouli N, Rhee M, Seegmiller JC, Singh V, Sivitz WI, Steffes MW, Utzschneider K, DeFronzo RA, GRADE Research Group* . Diabetes Care, 2026 Feb 1; 49 (2): 325 - 334. DOI:10.2337/dc25-2186
      PMID: PMC12824799
    • Journal Article
      Medication Adherence in the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study (GRADE).
      Gonzalez JS, Wen H, Butera NM, Uschner D, Krause-Steinrauf H, Gramzinski MR, Wexler DJ, Petrovitch H, Hoogendoorn CJ, Crespo-Ramos G, Presley C, Fattaleh B, Lagari V, Walker EA, Cherrington AL, GRADE Research Group* . Diabetes Care, 2026 Feb 1; 49 (2): 335 - 343. DOI:10.2337/dc25-2008
      PMID: PMC12824802
    • Journal Article
      Author Correction: Paraventricular, subparaventricular and periventricular hypothalamic IRS4-expressing neurons are required for normal energy balance (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (5546), 10.1038/s41598-020-62468-z)
      Sutton Hickey AK, Gonzalez IE, Sadagurski M, Rajala M, Lu C, Allison MB, Adams JM, Myers MG, White MF, Olson DP. Scientific Reports, 2025 Dec 1; 15 (1): DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-85804-7
      PMID: 39966516
    • Journal Article
      Differences in Prevalence and Incidence of Electrocardiogram Abnormalities and Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy Among Randomized Glucose-Lowering Treatments in Early Type 2 Diabetes: The Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes (GRADE) Cohort
      Pop-Busui R, Rosin SP, Butera NM, Krause-Steinrauf H, Assi HA, Garg RK, Inzucchi SE, Katona A, McGill JB, Mudaliar S, Schade DS, Seaquist ER, Tiktin M, Soliman EZ, Green JB. Diabetes Care, 2025 Nov 1; 48 (11): 1960 - 1970. DOI:10.2337/dc25-1087
      PMID: 40986645
    • Journal Article
      A Genetically-Engineered Thyroid Gland Built for Selective Triiodothyronine Secretion
      Citterio CE, Morales-Rodriguez B, Liao XH, Vu C, Nguyen R, Tsai J, Le J, Metawea I, Liu M, Olson DP, Refetoff S, Arvan P. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 Aug 1; 26 (15): DOI:10.3390/ijms26157166
      PMID: 40806299
    • Journal Article
      Association of Hospitalizations With Randomized Glycemia-Lowering Treatment in GRADE.
      Hsia DS, Younes N, Ghosh A, Kazemi EJ, Krause-Steinrauf H, Buse JB, Baker C, Brown-Friday J, Diaz E, Diner J, Groessl EJ, Legowski EA, Mariash CN, Waltje AH, Wexler DJ, Martin CL, GRADE Research Group . Diabetes Care, 2025 Jul 1; 48 (7): 1288 - 1294. DOI:10.2337/dc24-2839
      PMID: PMC12178615

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