Rajagopal V. Sekhar, M.D.
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Rajagopal V. Sekhar, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Positions
- Professor of Medicine
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Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX USA
- Lead
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Translational Metabolism Unit
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, USA
- Faculty and Clinic Head
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Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Clinic
Quentin Meese Health Center
Houston, TX, USA
- Faculty
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Endocrinology and Metabolism
Ben Taub General Hospital
Harris Health System
Houston, TX, USA
- Secondary Faculty
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Huffington Center on Aging
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, USA
- Member
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Texas Development Center for AIDS Research (Texas D-CFAR)
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, USA
- Member
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Center of Alzheimer and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CAND)
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, USA
- Core Faculty
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Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX USA
Addresses
- Baylor College of Medicine (Office)
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MS BCM-185, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Translational Metabolism Unit
Houston, TX 77030-3411
United States
rsekhar@bcm.edu
Education
- MBBS from St. John's Medical College, 1986-1991 (Doctor of Medicine degree)
- Bangalore, India
- Doctor of Medicine
- Internship at St. John's Medical College Hospital (1991-1992)
- Bangalore, India
- Postdoctoral Training at Nutrition Resarch Center, St. John's Medical College (1992-1995)
- Bangalore, India
- Residency at Internal Medicine (1995-1998)
- United Kingdom
- Clinical Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine (1998-2000)
- Houston, TX, USA
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine (2000-2001)
- Houston, TX, USA
- Research Fellowship in Nutritional Metabolism
- Residency at University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (2001-2003)
- Tulsa, OK, USA
- Internal Medicine
Certifications
- American Board of Medical Specialties
- American Board of Internal Medicine
Honors & Awards
- 1992: The Dr. and Mrs. Menino D’Souza Prize
- Best graduating medical student
- St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore India.
- 1991: The Dr. H. J. Mehta Research Prize
- Best research work by a medical student
- St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore India.
- 2001: Outstanding Fellow in Endocrinology Special Recognition Award
- Conferred by the Endocrine Fellows Forum of Excellence for ‘outstanding academic and professional achievements and commitment to diabetes research and management’, at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia, PA.
- Endocrine Fellows Forum of Excellence
- 2001: The Pfizer Scholar in Endocrinology National Award
- Presented ‘In recognition of outstanding achievement in the advancement of Endocrine Science’.
- 2001: First Place and Third Place Awards
- Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Medicine and American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM, Oklahoma Chapter), Oklahoma City, OK.
- 2002: National Award: The ACP National Scientific Research Prize
- Conferred by the American College of Medicine and American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP/ASIM) at the National Annual Scientific Session, Philadelphia, PA.
- The American College of Physicians
- 2003: National Award: The ACP National Scientific Research Prize
- Conferred by the American College of Medicine and American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP/ASIM), Annual Scientific Session, San Diego, CA.
- The American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine
- 2004: T. Franklin Williams Scholars Award
- Awarded for work on Aging, Glutathione Synthesis and Oxidative Stress.
- Association of Subspecialty Professors (ASP) and the American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
- 2009: Fulbright and Jaworski LLP Award
- Awarded for for excellence in education in the category of ‘teaching and evaluation’
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2011: Fulbright and Jaworski LLP Award
- Awarded for excellence in education in the category of ‘development of enduring educational materials’
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2012: International Award for Publishing Excellence
- Conferred for manuscript published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Endocrine Society
- 2013: Special Invited Presentation to the 41st President of the United States
- Personal invitation from the 41st President of the United States, Mr. George H. W. Bush for a private presentation and discussion of my research on “The Role of GlyNAC in Aging”, which took place in his office on November 17, 2013.
- 2017: Star Clinician Award
- Awarded for for Excellence in Patient Care
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2018: Second Place Award, Clinical Research Category (Mentor)
- Annual Medicine Research Symposium, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2019: First Place Award, Clinical Research Category (Mentor)
- Awarded at the Annual Medicine Research Symposium, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2019: Second Place Award, Basic Science Research Category (Mentor)
- Awarded at the Annual Medicine Research Symposium, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine
- 2020: Editor's Choice paper
- Published manuscript selected as 'Editor's Choice' paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/8/10/390
- Journal 'Biomedicines'
- 2023: Editor's Choice paper
- Manuscript selected as 'Editor's Choice' article. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac135
- Journal of Gerontology - Medical Sciences (01/2023)
Professional Interests
- Resarch: Understanding and reversing defects in nutrient, mitochondrial and energy metabolism to improve health
- Resarch: Developing novel strategies to promote healthy aging
- Resarch: Improving brain health and reversing cognitive decline
- Resarch: Novel approaches in diabetes
- Resarch: Metabolic and cognitive disorders in HIV-infection and infectious disease
- Educational intests: Being an educator at all levels, while also being a learner. Special focus on simplifying concepts about disease for patients, as in the ABCDE approach for diabetes.
- Clinical interests: General Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic disorders
Professional Statement
Research: to explore, investigate, evaluate and understand the basis of illness and disease in terms of redox imbalance, mitochondrial impairment and glutathione deficiency, and to identify novel solutions to improve health and longevity.Educational: to teach at all levels, and simplify concepts to facilitate understanding.
Clinical: to provide the best care to patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Websites
Selected Publications
- Nguyen D, Samson SL, Reddy VT, Gonzalez EV, Sekhar RV "Impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and insulin resistance in aging: novel protective role of glutathione.." Aging Cell. 2013 Jun;12(3):415-25. Pubmed PMID: 23534396
- Sekhar RV, McKay SV, Patel SG, Guthikonda AP, Reddy VT, Balasubramanyam A, Jahoor F "Glutathione synthesis is diminished in patients with uncontrolled diabetes and restored by dietary supplementation with cysteine and glycine.." Diabetes Care. 2011 Jan;34(1):162-7. Pubmed PMID: 20929994
- Kumar P, Osahon OW, Sekhar RV. "GlyNAC (Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine) Supplementation in Mice Increases Length of Life by Correcting Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Abnormalities in Mitophagy and Nutrient Sensing, and Genomic Damage." Nutrients. 2022 Mar;14(5):1114 Pubmed PMID: 35268089
- Sekhar RV "GlyNAC (Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine) Supplementation Improves Impaired Mitochondrial Fuel Oxidation and Lowers Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Results of a Pilot Study.." Antioxidants. 2022 Jan;13;11(1):154 Pubmed PMID: 35052658
- Kumar P, Osahon O, Vides DB, Hanania N, Minard CG, Sekhar RV "Severe Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress and Oxidant Damage in Adults Hospitalized with COVID-19: Implications for GlyNAC (Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine) Supplementation.." Antioxidants. 2021 Dec;11(1):50 Pubmed PMID: 35052554
- Sekhar RV "GlyNAC Supplementation Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Aging Hallmarks, Metabolic Defects, Muscle Strength, Cognitive Decline, and Body Composition: Implications for Healthy Aging." Journal of Nutrition. 2021 Dec;151(12):3606-3616. Pubmed PMID: 34587244
- Sekhar RV "Supplementing glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) rapidly improves health-related quality of life and lowers perception of fatigue in patients with HIV." AIDS. 2021 Jul 15;35(9):1522-1524. Pubmed PMID: 34185721
- Kumar P, Liu C, Hsu JW, Chacko S, Minard C, Jahoor F, Sekhar RV "Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) supplementation in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, genotoxicity, muscle strength, and cognition." Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2021 Mar;11(3):e372 Pubmed PMID: 33783984
- Kumar P, Liu C, Suliburk JW, Minard CG, Muthupillai R, Chacko S, Hsu JW, Jahoor F, Sekhar RV "Supplementing Glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Aging HIV Patients Improves Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Endothelial Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, Genotoxicity, Strength, and Cognition." Biomedicines. 2020 Sep;8(10):390 Pubmed PMID: 33007928
- Cieslik KA, Sekhar RV, Granillo A, Reddy A, Medrano G, Heredia CP, Entman ML, Hamilton DJ, Li S, Reineke E, Gupte AA, Zhang A, Taffet GE "Improved Cardiovascular Function in Old Mice After N-Acetyl Cysteine and Glycine Supplemented Diet: Inflammation and Mitochondrial Factors." J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Aug 10;73(9):1167-77. Pubmed PMID: 29538624
- Sekhar RV et al "Increasing glutathione concentrations with cysteine and glycine supplementation lowers inflammation in HIV patients." AIDS. 2015 Sep 10;29(14):1899-1900. Pubmed PMID: 26372395
- Nguyen D, Hsu JW, Jahoor F, Sekhar RV "Effect of increasing glutathione with cysteine and glycine supplementation on mitochondrial fuel oxidation, insulin sensitivity, and body composition in older HIV-infected patients." J Clin Endoc Metab. 2014 Jan;99(1):169-77 Pubmed PMID: 24081740
- Sekhar RV et al "Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation." Am J Clin Nutrition. 2011 Sep;94(3):847-53 Pubmed PMID: 21795440
- Kumar P, Liu C, Suliburk J, Hsu JW, Muthupillai R, Jahoor F, Minard C, Taffet GE, Sekhar RV "Supplementing glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in older adults improves glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, physical function and aging hallmarks: A randomized clinical trial." J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Jan 26;(78(1)):75-89. Pubmed PMID: 35975308
- Kumar P, Osahon OW, Sekhar RV "GlyNAC Supplementation in Old Mice Reverses Age-Associated Cognitive Decline: Implications for Improving Brain Health in Aging." Antioxidants. 2023 May;
Projects
- Randomised Clinical Trial of GlyNAC supplementation in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Randomized Clinical Trial of GlyNAC supplementation in Alzheimer's disease
- Translational studies in basic sciences and clinical trials in: Aging, Premature-Aging, Cognitive decline, Diabetes, HIV-aging, Disorders of energy metabolism
- Randomized Clinical Trial of GlyNAC supplementation in Older Adults: completed and published (https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac135)
Memberships
- American Aging Association
- Gerontological Society of America
Funding
- R01 funding National Institutes of Health
Skills
- Endocrine disorders
- Diabetes and Insulin resistance
- Energy, mitochondrial and nutrient metabolism
- Age-associated cognitive decline
- Glutathione biology and Oxidative Stress
- HIV-associated metabolic disease
- Analogy-based comprehensive diabetes education (ABCDE)
- GlyNAC supplementation in aging, cognitive decline, HIV-infection and Diabetes
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