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Heidi de Wet is a South African Associate Professor of Physiology and head of the de Wet Group at the University of Oxford. Her research investigates ABC transporters, cells involved in nutrient sensing in intestines and the secretion of hormones that regulate physiological responses to food intake. Her earlier research focused on a rare form of type 2 neonatal diabetes. Heidi is a Fellow and Director of Studies for Pre-clinical Medicine at St Catherine's College.

Education

De Wet obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Botany from North Western University, South Africa, before being awarded a DPhil from the University of Cape Town (UCT) Medical School in 2000. Her doctoral studies within the Department of Chemical Pathology concentrated on membrane transporters, specifically ATP Binding Cassette (ABC), implicated in multi-drug resistance.

Research and career

In 2003 de Wet moved to Oxford, UK, to pursue post-doctoral studies in Professor Frances Ashcroft’s laboratory. This work focused on neonatal diabetes, a rare form of type 2 diabetes, and led to the publication of papers in EMBO Reports and PNAS. In 2013, after two maternity breaks, de Wet took up a position as Lecturer in Physiology and Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. In addition to lecturing she continued her research, gradually shifting the focus to the role of ABC transporters in gut endocrine K-and L-cells. Her current research investigates the involvement of these cells in nutrient sensing in the small intestine after food consumption, and the subsequent release of peptide hormones that regulate essential physiological responses. As of 2019, Heidi de Wet is the head of a research group in addition to being a Fellow and Director of Studies for Pre-clinical Medicine for St Catherine's College. These roles include teaching and original research. She was featured in a 2015 publication from The Physiological Society entitled: Women Physiologists: Centenary celebrations and beyond, where she emphasised the importance of a healthy work/family life balance.