Washington University in St Louis · BiologyPotassium Channel Biology Laboratory
Colin G Nichols · Saint Louis, Missouri
Research Focus
The lab led by Colin G. Nichols at Washington University investigates how potassium channels influence insulin secretion and cardiovascular health. By studying both the molecular mechanisms of these channels and their role in diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, the lab aims to develop new therapies that can mitigate these conditions. Their work involves a mix of animal models and cell biology to better understand these important biological processes.
KATP channelshyperinsulinismdiabetespotassium channelscardiovascular diseasemolecular biologyanimal modelsinsulin secretionchannelopathiespharmacology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of KATP channels in insulin secretion and diabetes.
AIM 02Explore how mutations in KATP channels lead to cardiovascular diseases.
AIM 03Develop animal models to study hyperinsulinism and diabetes.
AIM 04Identify molecular mechanisms that link metabolism to electrical excitability in cells.
AIM 05Create new pharmacological therapies for KATP-related diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelselectrophysiologyprotein purificationmolecular cloninggenetic knockout techniquesWestern blottingphysiological assaysdata analysis using Pythonanimal handling
Output against the department
Publications492top 8% of dept.86th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations25ktop 16% of dept.162nd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.