Jing Hughes, MD, PhD

Dr. Jing Hughes is a physician-scientist and Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Her laboratory investigates pancreatic islet cilia as dynamic signaling hubs that regulate insulin secretion and cellular communication. Using genetic models and advanced imaging approaches, the Hughes Lab has demonstrated that these organelles possess both sensory and motile functions in beta cells, challenging their conventional classification as static cellular antennas. Her current research focuses on understanding how ciliary metabolic GPCRs integrate nutrient and paracrine signals, with the goal to identify novel therapeutic targets for diabetes and related metabolic diseases. Dr. Hughes is committed to training the next generation of scientists and actively mentors students in graduate and MSTP programs. Her contributions to islet biology have been recognized with the American Society for Clinical Investigation's Young Physician-Scientist Award and the Midwest Islet Club's Robert L. Sorenson Prize.