John Kirwan

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JOHN KIRWAN

I am a dedicated leader and innovator in the biomedical and life sciences sector with an established international reputation across academia, healthcare, government, and industry. Throughout my career, I\'ve built strategic public-private partnerships, transformed research institutions, and advanced scientific discoveries that improve human health.As Executive Director of the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LA CaTS), I lead Louisiana\'s premier NIH-funded statewide research enterprise — a $215+ million collaboration that unifies 10 major academic and healthcare institutions and supports 300+ investigators. This multi-institutional leadership has enabled over $335 million in extramural research funding and more than publications, advancing clinical translation and health outcomes across Louisiana.From 2018 to 2025, I served as Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, where I led the institution\'s transformation from a $59 million research enterprise to over $100 million — the first time in its history. I recruited 30+ faculty members, more than doubled state appropriations, expanded international partnerships to 22 countries, and positioned Pennington as a national leader in metabolic health research.My research program centers on mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic disease, with a focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Our discovery of the role of the Miro1 protein in diabetic muscle dysfunction identifies a novel therapeutic target with translational potential. I serve as Commissioner on The Lancet Commission on Clinical Obesity and co-authored the ACSM Consensus Statement on Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes — work that shapes global health policy and clinical practice.As Founding Director of both the Metabolic Translational Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and the National Coaching & Training Center in Ireland — supporting elite athlete development across Olympic sports, rugby, and GAA — I have established foundations for excellence and innovation that continue to influence these institutions.I hold the John W. Barton Sr. Endowed Chair in Metabolism and Nutrition at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, serve as a Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commissioner appointed by Governor Jeff Landry, and am a Co-Founder of TransIslet Therapeutics LLC, which is developing xenotransplant therapy for type 1 diabetes.