Diabetes is a complex of disorders characterized by a common final element of hyperglycemia. The pathogenetic differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes are universally recognized, as are the emerging subdivisions of non-insulin dependent diabetes or NIDDM. Common to these is a need to understand the diverse molecular mechanisms that lead to hyperglycemia. Diabetes, arising from differing initiating lesions, share complications, which occur frequently and exact a heavy toll on patients and families. The Diabetes Center operates in the belief that applying the increasingly sophisticated biochemical, physical and molecular biologic tools available to problems relating to the origin of diabetes or its complications will improve the lives of patients with diabetes or patients at risk to developing the disease.
The vision of the Diabetes Center is two-fold. First, through its Core Laboratories to implement and if need-be develop for members state-of-the-art methods for studying the pathogenesis and complications of diabetes. Second, through the Pilot and Feasibility Program to inform other researchers of the nature of the biologic and clinical problems encompassed by diabetes and challenge them to use their research skills to investigate these problems in diabetes.
The Diabetes Center Core Laboratories are:
In addition to the Core Laboratories, the center has an Administrative Core.
The research focus of the 53 Diabetes Center members include:
-
immunopathogenesis and genetics of diabetes,
-
insulin and counter-regulatory hormone secretion and action, and
-
short and long-term complications of diabetes.
The Diabetes Center is funded in part by a Diabetes Endocrine Research Center (DERC) grant from the NIDDK of the NIH.