Raghavendra Mirmira

Raghu G. Mirmira (also known as Raghavendra G. Mirmira) is an American physician-scientist specializing in diabetes, pancreatic β-cell biology, and translational endocrinology.

He is a tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, where he serves as Director of the NIH-funded Diabetes Research and Training Center, Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine, and Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program (appointed effective April 2026).

His laboratory has examined the role of β-cell stress responses in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes and has contributed to the development of biomarkers of β-cell injury as well as strategies aimed at informing new therapeutic approaches. In 2023, he received the Albert Renold Award from the American Diabetes Association for his outstanding contributions to the training and mentorship of diabetes research scientists. He completed his MD and PhD training at the University of Chicago, followed by residency in internal medicine and fellowship in diabetes and endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Physician Postdoctoral Fellow. Elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He has also received multiple mentoring and scientific achievement awards and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in endocrinology.

Selected publications Mirmira has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles. Representative recent publications include: “Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves β cell function in type 1 diabetes” (Cell Reports Medicine, 2023). “Proinflammatory signaling in islet β cells propagates invasion of pathogenic immune cells in autoimmune diabetes” (Cell Reports, 2022). “Deoxyhypusine synthase promotes a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype” (Cell Metabolism, 2021).