Diabetes and Obesity

Our Research Focus

Energy homeostasis—keeping calories ingested and energy expended about equal—is a delicate balance. Until very recently the need has been to make the most of every calorie, and mammals, including humans, developed a nuanced and complex system to help maintain homeostasis. Now modern lifestyles have disrupted the equation, and metabolic disorders (obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease) are at epidemic levels.

Research shows that approximately 500-1,000 genes can lead to obesity in mice when mutated. Our program investigates the genetics of the metabolic system and the disorders that result when the system is perturbed. We seek to identify and investigate new mutations that cause metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. We also research genetic modifiers that reduce or increase susceptibilities to the disorders, which are reflected in the wide variability of responses to diet and lifestyle choices in the human population.  

Faculty & Staff

Blaze Albert Lab Staff

Blaze Albert

Candice N. Baker, Ph.D. Lab Staff, Research Scientist

Candice N. Baker, Ph.D.

Robyn Ball, Ph.D. Lab Staff

Robyn Ball, Ph.D.

Redwan M Bhuiyan, BA Lab Staff

Redwan M Bhuiyan, BA

Gregory Carter, Ph.D. Professor

Gregory Carter, Ph.D.

Laure Case, Ph.D. Lab Staff

Laure Case, Ph.D.

Gary Churchill, Ph.D. Professor

Gary Churchill, Ph.D.

Jennifer Dwyer, Ph.D.

Jennifer Dwyer, Ph.D.

Matthew Gerring, MEng Lab Staff, Software Engineer

Matthew Gerring, MEng

Kourtney Graham, Ph.D.

Kourtney Graham, Ph.D.

Jeffrey Harder, Ph.D. Computational Scientist

Jeffrey Harder, Ph.D.

David E. Harrison, Ph.D. Professor

David E. Harrison, Ph.D.

Hao He, Ph.D.

Hao He, Ph.D.

George Horvat Lab Staff

George Horvat

Romy Kursawe, Ph.D. Lab Staff

Romy Kursawe, Ph.D.

Donghyung Lee, Ph.D. Alumni

Donghyung Lee, Ph.D.

Hannah Megathlin Lab Staff

Hannah Megathlin

Efthymios Motakis, Ph.D.

Efthymios Motakis, Ph.D.

Jürgen Naggert, Ph.D. Professor

Jürgen Naggert, Ph.D.

Patsy Nishina, Ph.D. Professor

Patsy Nishina, Ph.D.

Francis O'Neill, M.D., M.A. Postdoctoral Associate

Francis O'Neill, M.D., M.A.

Jeremy Racine, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist

Jeremy Racine, Ph.D.

Vijay Selvam Lab Staff

Vijay Selvam

David Serreze, Ph.D. Professor

David Serreze, Ph.D.

Lenny Shultz, Ph.D. Professor

Lenny Shultz, Ph.D.

Santhosh Sivajothi, Ph.D. Research Scientist

Santhosh Sivajothi, Ph.D.

Daniel Skelly, Ph.D. Research Scientist

Daniel Skelly, Ph.D.

Michael Stitzel, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Michael Stitzel, Ph.D.

Marissa Tousey Pfarrer Lab Staff

Marissa Tousey Pfarrer

Jarek Trapszo

Jarek Trapszo

Fotios Tsetsos, Ph.D. Computational Scientist

Fotios Tsetsos, Ph.D.

Duygu Ucar, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Duygu Ucar, Ph.D.

Kathleen Vollmer Lab Staff

Kathleen Vollmer

Xiaofei Yang, Ph.D. Alumni

Xiaofei Yang, Ph.D.

Shanrong Zhang, Ph.D. Lab Staff

Shanrong Zhang, Ph.D.

Aamir Zuberi, Ph.D. Director

Aamir Zuberi, Ph.D.

Ansarullah, Ph.D. Lab Staff

Ansarullah, Ph.D.

Research Centers & Resources

Biology of Beta Cell Consortium

NOD-scid IL2rgnull (NSG) and NOD-Rag1null IL2rgnull (NRG) mice support heightened levels of engraftment with human cells and tissues. These engrafted mice allow research on...

Mouse Genome Informatics

International database resource for the laboratory mouse, providing integrated genetic, genomic, and biological data.

Upcoming Education

Upcoming Education
May 29 - 30
Short Course

The Whole Scientist Regional Short Course

Aging, Behavioral Disorders, Bioinformatics, Cancer, Computational Biology, Complex Traits, Developmental Disorders, Diabetes and Obesity, Eye Research, Genetics and Genomics, Immune Disorders, Skin Disease, Infectious Disease Research, Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases, Reproductive Disorders, Resource Development and Dissemination
Jul Aug 22 - 02
Short Course

Human and Mammalian Genetics and Genomics: The 65th McKusick Short Course

Precision medicine, Ethics, Stem cells, Microbiome, Infectious Disease, Immunology, Model Development, Rare Diseases, Aging, Cardiovascular, Cancer/Tumors, Developmental Biology, Diabetes, Genetic Tools, Optogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Autoimmunity, Inflammation, Lupus, Addiction, Dermatology, Autoimmune Diseases Information, Metabolic Diseases, Neurodegenerative Disease, Reproductive Biology, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Rett Syndrome, Neurodevelopmental Defects, Metabolic Defects, Cystic Fibrosis, Genetics and Genomics, Reproductive Disorders, Complex Traits, Developmental Disorders, Diabetes and Obesity, Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases, Immune Disorders, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Cancer
Sep 24 - 27
Short Course

The Whole Scientist

Aging, Behavioral Disorders, Bioinformatics, Cancer, Computational Biology, Complex Traits, Developmental Disorders, Diabetes and Obesity, Eye Research, Genetics and Genomics, Immune Disorders, Skin Disease, Infectious Disease Research, Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases, Reproductive Disorders, Resource Development and Dissemination

Online Courses and On-Demand Webinars

Webinar Series

Obesity & Diabetes

Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Defects, Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Obesity
On Demand Webinar Series

Diabetes, NASH, & Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Obesity