Author

Heather H. Durai

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

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Developmental Biology· 1 Immunology· 1 Physiology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Research Focus:cell type annotation· 3 Organism:human· 3 Approach:statistical model· 3 Assay:bulk RNA-seq· 2 Research Focus:differential expression· 2 Research Focus:database / resource· 1 Approach:experimental assay· 1 Assay:imaging· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Alexander L. HopkirkiD· 2 shared Alvin C. PowersiD· 2 shared Conrad ReihsmanniD· 2 shared COREY DAVIS· 2 shared Diane C. SaundersiD· 2 shared Fan FengiD· 2 shared Greg PoffenbergeriD· 2 shared Hakmook KangiD· 2 shared

Activity by Year

2026-2026 · peak 3/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 45 mutual co-author links

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2 shared papersDevelopmental Biology

Alexander L. HopkirkORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

3 papers

Recent·Most cited

Mapping histological and functional maturation of human endocrine pancreas across early postnatal periods

Diane C. Saunders, Fan Feng, Alexander L. Hopkirk, Kristie I. Aamodt, Nathaniel J. Hart, Fong Cheng Pan, Conrad Reihsmann, Nike Izmaylov, Shaojun Mei, Brandon A. Sherrod, COREY DAVIS, NONGYAO NONPANYA, Yasminye D. Pettway, Keval P. Patel, KAI S. LEE, , Marcela Briššová

The paper maps the morphological and functional maturation of human endocrine pancreas from birth to age 10 using pediatric tissue samples and imaging techniques.

Nature Communications · Jun 29, 2026Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology

Heterogeneous endocrine cell composition defines human islet functional phenotypes

Carmella Evans‐Molina, Yasminye D. Pettway, Diane C. Saunders, Seth A. Sharp, Thomas S. R. Bate, Han Sun, Heather H. Durai, Shaojun Mei, Anastasia Coldren, Corey Davis, Conrad Reihsmann, Alexander L. Hopkirk, Jay Taylor, Amber M. Bradley, Radhika Aramandla, , Marcela Briššová

In 299 islet preparations from donors without diabetes, endocrine cell composition, not donor demographics, tracked insulin secretion, and δ cell percentage rose with type 2 diabetes genetic risk.

Nature Communications · May 12, 2026Peer-reviewedPhysiology✦ In-depth digest

Metabolic Adaptations Rewire CD4 T Cells in a Subset-Specific Manner in Human Critical Illness with and without Sepsis

Matthew T. Stier, Allison E. Sewell, Erin L. Mwizerwa, Chooi Ying Sim, Steve Tanner, Casey M. Nichols, Heather H. Durai, Erin Q. Jennings, Paul Lindau, Erin M. Wilfong, Sarah N. Obeidalla, Vern Eric Kerchberger, Dawn C. Newcomb, Julie A. Bastarache, Lorraine B. Ware, Jeffrey C. Rathmell

The paper examines metabolic adaptations in CD4 T cells of critically ill patients with and without sepsis, identifying subset-specific changes linked to immunosuppression and clinical outcomes.

Nature Immunology · Jan 15, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology