Kara Hughan, MD

Education

• MD, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio

Training

• Residency, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Research Interests

An assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Kara Hughan, MD, examines hepatic-islet signaling, mitochondrial function and cardiovascular health in obesity, and cystic fibrosis in pediatric and adult populations. Her National Institutes of Health-funded K23 “Nitrite Modulation of Hypertension, Platelet Activation and Endothelial and Mitochondrial Function” examines whether chronic oral nitrite therapy modulates mitochondrial energetics, oxidative stress and redox (ROS/NO) signaling in platelets, and improves skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in hypertensive obese individuals.

Dr. Hughan is the recipient of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation EnVision award. This award enables her and colleagues to probe the mechanisms and the relationships between cystic fibrosis related diabetes and cystic fibrosis liver disease. Specifically, they aim to investigate the relationship of liver fibrosis using transient elastography for liver stiffness with metabolic perturbations in glucose and free fatty acids in individuals with cystic fibrosis.

Clinical Activities

Board certified in pediatric endocrinology, Dr. Hughan sees patients through the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. For appointments: 412-692-5200.

View Dr. Hughan’s full list of publications from PubMed.