MICHAEL SCOTT FLANCHER, MD

MILWAUKEE, WI

Research Active
Pediatrics NPI registered 7+ years 1 publication 2019 – 2019 NPI: 1588125074

Practice Location

999 N 92ND ST STE 730
MILWAUKEE, WI 53226-4875

Phone: (414) 266-6800

What does MICHAEL FLANCHER research?

Michael Flancher's research primarily explores how pancreatic insulin-producing cells manage energy and respond to DNA damage. Specifically, he examines how nitric oxide affects these cells' energy generation and damage response mechanisms. In contrast to many other cells that can switch energy sources when under stress, pancreatic cells appear to lack this flexibility. This inability to adapt leads to an energy crisis in the cells, preventing them from effectively repairing DNA. By investigating these processes, Flancher aims to better understand pancreatic cell biology, which is crucial for conditions like diabetes.

Key findings

  • Pancreatic insulin-producing cells cannot switch energy sources effectively, leading to a 100% failure in their DNA damage response when exposed to nitric oxide.
  • Nitric oxide impairs energy generation by damaging the mitochondria (the cell's power plants), causing a significant drop in energy levels in pancreatic cells.
  • The lack of metabolic flexibility in these cells results in an inability to activate DNA repair systems, allowing DNA damage to accumulate.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dr. Flancher study diabetes?
Yes, Dr. Flancher's research is relevant to diabetes as it focuses on pancreatic insulin-producing cells, which are crucial for insulin regulation.
What treatments has Dr. Flancher researched?
Dr. Flancher examines the role of nitric oxide in pancreatic cells, which may have implications for developing treatments that target energy management in these cells.
Is Dr. Flancher's work relevant to understanding cell damage?
Absolutely, his work uncovers how energy deficiencies in cells contribute to DNA damage, an important factor in various diseases, including diabetes.

Publications in plain English

The Role of Metabolic Flexibility in the Regulation of the DNA Damage Response by Nitric Oxide.

2019

Molecular and cellular biology

Oleson BJ, Broniowska KA, Yeo CT, Flancher M, Naatz A +3 more

Plain English
Researchers found that nitric oxide shuts down the DNA damage response in pancreatic insulin-producing cells by blocking their ability to generate energy, and these cells cannot switch to alternative energy sources like normal cells can. When nitric oxide damages the cell's power plants (mitochondria), most cell types adapt by switching to glucose metabolism to keep energy levels up and activate their DNA repair systems—but pancreatic cells lack this flexibility and their energy crashes, leaving DNA damage unrepaired. This discovery explains why nitric oxide protects pancreatic cells from dying when their DNA is damaged: it essentially disables their damage response by starving them of energy.

PubMed

Frequent Co-Authors

Bryndon J Oleson Katarzyna A Broniowska Chay Teng Yeo Aaron Naatz Neil Hogg Vera L Tarakanova John A Corbett

Physician data sourced from the NPPES NPI Registry . Publication data from PubMed . Plain-English summaries generated by AI. Not medical advice.