Cellular Biologist Michael Mueckler Dies at 67

His work centered on the mechanisms of glucose transport into cells.

Written byLisa Winter
| 1 min read
M. Mueckler looking at the camera in front of his microscope in 1998.

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ABOVE: Mueckler in his lab in 1998
BECKER MEDICAL LIBRARY, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Michael Mueckler, a cellular biologist who studied glucose transport and blood sugar regulation, has died at the age of 67. According to an announcement from the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) School of Medicine, where Mueckler worked for more than 30 years, he died of natural causes in his home on July 14.

According to his WUSTL biography, Mueckler earned a bachelor’s degree in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and stayed there for his oncology PhD work. After graduating in 1983, he completed a three-year postdoc at MIT. He joined the faculty at WUSTL in 1986, where he remained until his retirement in 2019.

Mueckler’s work was centered around the mechanisms of glucose metabolism regulation and identifying factors that interfere with the process, leading to diabetes, certain cancers, and other conditions. For many years, ...

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  • Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.

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