Memorial researcher wins CSPT Junior Investigator Award 2026 for insulin‑to‑mitochondria cardiac findings
Dr. Qutuba Karwi (Memorial University Faculty of Medicine) received the Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2026 Junior Investigator Award. His team identified AKT as a mitochondrial messenger for insulin and showed in HFpEF mouse models that a compound activating AKT for three weeks improved cardiac glucose oxidation and diastolic function, pointing to candidate biological targets for future therapies.
The CSPT recognized Dr. Qutuba Karwi in late September 2026 for notable advances in basic and clinical pharmacology. His lab demonstrated that AKT (protein kinase B) conveys insulin’s signal to mitochondria. In mouse models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), three‑week treatment with an AKT activator enhanced glucose oxidation in cardiac tissue and was associated with improved diastolic function. The team plans proteomic and metabolomic studies to pinpoint molecular targets that could direct future therapeutic development.
Read the original story · Memorial University — https://gazette.mun.ca/research/can-a-heart-be-rewired/