Michael Stitzel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
(De)coding the regulatory landscape of human pancreatic islets and other metabolic cell types health and diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease of genes and environment. My laboratory studies the epigenome of human pancreatic islets and their developmental precursor cells. One aim is to use the epigenome as a read-out of effects of type 2 diabetes genetic variants on islet gene expression programs and function. Emerging evidence suggests that normal or disease-predisposing conditions can actually alter a cell's epigenome and lead to abnormal cellular functions. To this end, my lab is investigating how the islet epigenome is altered under different stimulatory and stress conditions. Finally, we are pursuing targeted modification of cells’ epigenomes to facilitate production of bona fide pancreatic islet cells from pluripotent stem cells or other terminally differentiated cells.
Education and experience
Experience
Associate Professor (2019-present)
Assistant Professor (2013-2019)
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn (2013-present)
Member, Institute of Systems Genomics, UConn (2015-present)
Grants, awards and accomplishments
2014 - American Diabetes Association Young Investigator Travel Grant Award
2013 - Genome Technology Young Investigators of the Year Award
2012 - Endocrine Society Early Investigator’s Workshop for Trainees
2011 - NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence
2005 - Best Graduate Presentation, Johns Hopkins McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine Retreat
2002, 2003 - Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
2000 - William J. Fulbright Scholarship
2000 - National Institutes of Health Summer Research Fellowship
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Research HighlightOctober 17, 2023Potential early sign of Type 2 diabetes identified
Michael Stitzel, Ph.D., is advancing the understanding of Type 2 diabetes and its risk identifiers, which now include dysfunction in the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria. -
Research HighlightNovember 09, 2021JAX researchers examine genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, a major health problem throughout much of the world, is being targeted on a genetic level by JAX researchers. -
Press ReleaseFebruary 06, 2019Grant fuels search for new therapeutic targets in type 2 diabetes
JAX’s Stitzel Laboratory secures funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases that will allow them to explore a new genomic region linked to type 2 diabetes, with hopes of establishing them as new targets for treatment. -
Featured ArticleOctober 03, 2018Type 2 Diabetes: It's Personal
Assistant Professor Michael L. Stitzel, Ph.D. gave a TED-style talk on new approaches to type 2 diabetes as part of the Laboratory’s JAXtaposition speaker series. Photo by Charles Camarda.
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Featured ArticleMay 05, 2022Ryan Tewhey: Genome explorer
JAX's Ryan Tewhey brings open-minded inquiry to the search for genetic mechanisms involved in complex traits and disease mechanisms. -
Press ReleaseFebruary 23, 2021Your genetic makeup and type 2 diabetes
JAX diabetes researcher explores the genetic variations that influence susceptibility to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. -
Research HighlightFebruary 05, 2019Type 2 diabetes research: Know your tools
Michael L. Stitzel and collaborators thoroughly characterize an important new cell line for type 2 diabetes research. -
Press ReleaseSeptember 27, 2018Probing the genetics of islet stress and resilience in type 2 diabetes
$2.8 million Department of Defense grant will fund JAX research defining gene-environment interactions of islet resilience and type 2 diabetes