Diabetes Research
The Division of Endocrinology with NIH, ADA, JDRF and individual donors, supports basic and clinical research on the etiology of diabetes and its complications. Research programs directly under the auspices of the division include the following:
Donald A. McClain, Professor and Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism - Dr. McClain's group investigates how cells sense glucose. Importantly, Dr. McClain's laboratory has made seminal observations regarding how protein glucosylation regulates specific enzymes involved in nutrient storage and metabolism. Dr. Donald A. McClain's Research Web Site
E. Dale Abel, Associate Professor - Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for diabetics. Dr. Abel's laboratory studies insulin signaling and action in the heart, with an emphasis on elucidating the molecular mechanisms responsible for cardiac dysfunction in diabetics. His pioneering work reveals that insulin resistance in the heart has remarkable effects on the organ's capacity to respond to stress. Dr. E. Dale Abel's Research Web Site
Scott A. Summers, Associate Professor - Dr. Summers' laboratory investigates the mechanisms linking lipid oversupply to the regulation of insulin signaling. His group has determined that specific metabolites of saturated fats, termed ceramides, have profound effects on overall nutrient homeostasis, and can contribute to the lipotoxic consequences of metabolism gone awry. Dr. Scott Summers Research Web Site
In addition, the Division of Endocrinology has organized an interdisciplinary consortium of investigators researching the pathogenesis of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
