Sean W. Limesand, PhD, is a Professor of Endocrinology in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr. Limesand received his Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from North Dakota State University. He moved to Colorado State University where he earned his Master’s degree and PhD in Molecular Endocrinology in the Department of Biomedical Science. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Perinatal Medicine at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine where his research continued to focus on fetal endocrinology. In 2005, Dr. Limesand joined the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Arizona and was promoted to Full Professor in 2014. Dr. Limesand holds joint appointments with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Bio5 Institute. As of 2016, Dr. Limesand is the Director of the Agricultural Research Center and earned the Hislop-Ede Endowed Chair. Within the University of Arizona, Dr. Limesand has been engaged with university committees and serves as the Chair of the Animal Sciences Graduate Program and the University Radiation Safety Committee.
Dr. Limesand is an endocrinologist, whose research is dedicated to placental function and fetal development, specifically investigating early life risk factors for metabolic diseases, such as intrauterine growth restriction. His research program uses a pertinent ovine model that allows for a truly integrative approach at the whole animal, isolated organ, cell, and molecular level to determine developmental responses in pancreatic β-cells that disrupt insulin secretion and permanently affect the life course of the fetus. Dr. Limesand continues to expand his research to incorporate critical aspects involved in insulin action in skeletal muscle to identify mechanisms influencing growth and metabolism. His investigations are ongoing with continuous funding by the National Institute for Health for the past 19 years. He has also received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USDA, JDRF, and other private foundations.
Dr. Limesand is active at the national and international level working with societies to promote trainees and expand perinatal research. To this end, he has held leadership roles in the Perinatal Research Society, Perinatal Biology Symposium, and served on the editorial boards for the Journal of Endocrinology and Journal of Molecular Endocrinology.