Michael R. Rickels, M.D., M.S.

Dr. Rickels is the Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and Director for Clinical Science in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and since 2015 has served as Director of the Penn Diabetes Research Center RIA/Biomarkers Core. Dr. Rickels also serves as Director of the Translational Research Program of IDOM, and as Associate Director of the CTSA-sponsored Center for Human Phenomic Science (CHPS) of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT). He has extensive experience with RIA, ELISA, HPLC, GC-MS, autoanalyzer and colorimetric biochemical assays of islet cell, incretin, and counterregulatory hormones, stable glucose isotopes, metabolites and clinical and inflammatory biomarkers. Dr. Rickels is responsible for the strategic direction and scientific oversight of the RIA/Biomarkers Core.

Heather W. Collins, Ph.D.

Dr. Collins is the Technical Director of the Penn Diabetes Research Center RIA/Biomarkers Core. Dr. Collins has over 35 years of laboratory experience and expertise in the development and application of novel immunoassay techniques. Dr. Collins handles the day-to-day operation of the RIA/Biomarkers Core with the support of Research Specialists Ms. Lien Groh, Ms. Megan Donovan, and Ms. Huong-Lan Nguyen. Dr. Collins is responsible for the Core’s quality control/quality assurance/quality management processes and is the primary contact for consultative services and quotes and oversees the billing informatics.

Lien Groh

Ms. Groh is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center RIA/Biomarkers Core with 20 years’ experience as a laboratory technician and carries out RIAs and ELISAs and is the primary technician responsible for the Roche autoanalyzers.

Megan Donovan

Ms. Donovan is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center RIA/Biomarkers Core with 20 years’ experience as a laboratory technician and carries out ELISAs and is the primary technician responsible for the ELLA multiplex analyzer.

Huong-Lan Nguyen

Ms. Nguyen is a Research Specialist in the Penn Diabetes Research Center RIA/Biomarkers Core with over 20 years of laboratory experience in the performance of biochemical assays and sample extractions. Ms. Nguyen also supports the Penn IDOM Translational Research Program, including the IDOM Metabolic Tracer Resource.