Ahmad Al-Mrabeh
Dr Al-Mrabeh completed his PhD in 2011 at the James Hutton Institute, where he investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying plant–virus vector interactions. Between 2012 and 2021, he held several research positions at Newcastle University, progressing from Research Technician to Postdoctoral Scientist and Senior Postdoctoral Scientist. During this period, his work focused on the mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes remission following dietary weight loss.
In August 2021, Ahmad joined the University of Edinburgh as a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Transition Research Fellow to establish his independent research group. In 2022, he was awarded both the Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellowship and the MRC Career Development Award.
Dr Al-Mrabeh’s research focuses on the mechanisms of reversible pancreatic lipotoxicity in type 2 diabetes, with particular emphasis on the role of hepatic de novo lipogenesis in intrapancreatic fat accumulation and β-cell dysfunction. He employs a combination of experimental medicine, preclinical, and ex vivo approaches to identify mediators of lipotoxicity and to inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for type 2 diabetes.
Mary-Ann Robertson
Mary-Ann is a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist with NHS Lothian and a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Her work focuses on supporting individuals living with type 2 diabetes through both dietary and medication-based approaches to improve cardiometabolic health.
She led the development and delivery of a pharmacotherapy service across two GP practices serving areas of high socioeconomic deprivation in Lothian. Mary-Ann’s diabetes clinic was subsequently designated a “Teach and Treat” hub, supporting experiential learning for pharmacists establishing similar services.
Her research interests include comparing the effectiveness of low-calorie dietary interventions and GLP-1 receptor agonists in achieving remission of type 2 diabetes. Mary-Ann is also a member of the Edinburgh Diabetes Remission Study (EDRS), where she contributes to research exploring mechanisms of diabetes remission and cardiometabolic health.
Mary Wright
Mary is a Senior Diabetes Research Nurse with extensive experience delivering both pharmaceutical and academic clinical studies across NHS Lothian. She completed her V300 Non-Medical Prescribing qualification while working in research, further strengthening her clinical decision-making in diabetes and metabolic care.
Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Mary worked as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse in London, following several years as a General Practice Nurse across multiple London boroughs, where she developed strong expertise in chronic disease management, patient education, and community-based diabetes care. She began her nursing career as a cardiac theatre nurse in a major London teaching hospital, a role that shaped her resilience, precision, and ability to perform effectively in high-pressure clinical environments.
Within the Edinburgh Diabetes Remission Study (EDRS) at the University of Edinburgh, Mary supports the delivery of clinical and research procedures. She guides participants through the structured weight-loss programme, coordinates study visits, and conducts metabolic assessments and monitoring. Mary works closely with the multidisciplinary study team to ensure high-quality data collection across imaging, physiological testing, and metabolic profiling, contributing to research aimed at improving understanding of the mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes and its potential remission.
Misty Wilcox
Misty studied Nutrition at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she obtained an undergraduate degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Nutritional Science. She is also a Registered Dietitian accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the United States.
Misty is currently a PhD student at the ACRC Academy. Her doctoral research focuses on the role of dietary protein intake in the management of type 2 diabetes in older adults. In addition to her PhD research, Misty is a member of the Edinburgh Diabetes Remission Study (EDRS) team, contributing to research aimed at improving understanding of the dietary and metabolic factors influencing diabetes management and remission.