Teresa Zimmers

Teresa Zimmers is a molecular biologist with research interests in organ growth regulation, inflammation, and the systemic response to injury and cancer. Her work has implicated myostatin/GDF11/Activin/SMADs, Interleukin-6/STAT3, hedgehog and other secreted proteins in regulation of muscle and fat wasting. She seeks to identify mediators and mechanisms of cachexia in order to treat it so that patients live longer and better. Zimmers’ work with collaborators on mechanisms of death in lethal injection for execution has been discussed in the lay press, in peer-reviewed publications, and in judicial cases, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Areas of Expertise

Cancer cachexia; pancreatic cancer; malnutrition; muscle atrophy; burn injury; muscle wasting; lipolysis; supportive care; nutrition; myostatin; activin; interleukins; cytokines; hedgehog; inflammation; body composition; obesity; death penalty; lethal injection; execution; judicial homicide.