Research Areas

The research activities of the Section can be broadly divided into three programmatic areas, namely Type 1/Childhood-Onset Diabetes, Type 2/Adult-Onset Diabetes, and Bone and Mineral Metabolism. Each program spans both basic and human-based clinical research and is designed to translate discoveries from the bench to the bedside.

The program in type 1 diabetes includes Drs. Sherwin, Herold, Tamborlane, Gulanski, McCrimmon, and Wen. Research is centered on brain glucose sensing; the mechanisms responsible for defective glucose counterregulation in diabetes; development of a closed loop mechanical pancreas; the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes; and the development and implementation of immunomodulatory treatments for type 1 diabetes.

The program in type 2 diabetes includes Drs. Bogan, Petersen, Shulman, Cline, Inzucchi, Caprio, Samuel and Kibbey. Research in this program spans a variety of topics including the mechanisms of insulin resistance and signaling; the coupling of metabolism to insulin secretion in beta-cells; in vivo imaging of islets, the molecular mechanisms regulating glucose transport; the development of insulin resistance and diabetes in adolescents; the regulation of appetite and obesity; and the outcome of vascular disease in diabetics.

The program in bone and mineral metabolism includes Drs. Broadus, Insogna, Philbrick, Carpenter, Macica, Holt and Wysolmerski. Research by these investigators focuses on the biology of PTHrP in cartilage and mammary gland; bone cell biology; skeletal metabolism and osteoporosis; calcium metabolism during lactation and the transport of calcium into milk; the role of dietary protein in calcium and bone metabolism; and the pathogenesis and treatment of disorders of phosphate metabolism, especially X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.