MEET THE PI
.jpg)
Charlie Khemtong, PhD
Chalermchai “Charlie” Khemtong is an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism in the Department of Medicine at UF College of Medicine. He also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
Dr. Khemtong is a chemist by training, receiving both his BSc and PhD in Chemistry from Ubonratchathani University in Thailand and the University of Akron, respectively. He received his postdoctoral trainings in nanomedicine under Jinming Gao, PhD and then in metabolism and metabolic imaging under Dean Sherry, PhD and Craig Malloy, MD at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX.
Dr. Khemtong began his independent research career in the Advanced Imaging Research Center at UT Southwestern. He joined the UF College of Medicine in 2020. His research activity involves the use of stable isotope tracers (C-13) to study abnormal metabolism in high impact diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. His research is also focused on metabolic imaging using hyperpolarized C-13 MRI.
MEET THE TEAM
Nesmine Maptue, MSc
Lab Manager/Bio Scientist
Nesmine is a synthetic chemist-turned-biochemist. Her main research is focused on developing hyperpolarized carbon-13 imaging probes.
Mater's Student
Caroline is pursuing a Master's degree in Comprehensive Sciences. She is investigating mitochondrial redox in perfused rat hearts using C-13 tracers.
Caroline Caputo, BS
Ashlyn Hu
Undergrad Student Assistant
Ashlyn is majored in a Pre-med Zoology program. Her research is focused on glucose metabolism in neuroendocrine cancers.
Usa Suwannasual, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Usa was trained in biological sciences. She is investigating metabolic reprogramming associated with metabolic diseases.
Katherine Tansky
Undergrad Student Assistant
Kat is a junior majoring in Biochemistry. She is investigating substrate cycling and its roles in metabolic diseases using carbon-13 tracers.
Qingyang Shen, BS
Master's Student
Qingyang is a MS student in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Her thesis is focused on the roles of gut bacteria in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Jackson Pugmire
Undergrad Student Assistant
Jackson is a senior in a Pre-med Biochemistry program. His research is focused on restoring redox homeostasis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Megan Yeh
Summer Research Assistant
Megan is pursuing a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University. She is working on histological analyses of fatty liver in mice.