Basic Research

The adrenal research program includes ongoing studies which involve the analysis of the steroidogenic factor-1 transcription factor, the homozygous acd mutant gene causing adrenal dysgenesis, conditionally-dependent adrenal carcinoma that develops in mice lacking inhibin, the behavior of a variety of human adrenocortical carcinoma cell lines and the susceptibility of such cells to novel anti-tumor agents, as well as clinical studies of syndromes of steroid excess. Visit each faculty member's profile, by clicking each name below, to learn more about individual research interests.

Faculty who conduct research in this area include: 
Richard Auchus, MD, PhD, Tobias Else, MD, Gary Hammer, MD, Christopher LaPensee, PhD, William Rainey, PhD, Adina Turcu, MD, MS, Yewei Xing, PhD

Diabetes and obesity research - current studies range broadly from pancreatic beta cell biology, pancreatic endocrine progenitor (stem) cell differentiation, selenoproteins and oxidative stress, lipid storage and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance in aging, outcomes of critically ill hyperglycemic patients, cost and efficacy analyses in the treatments of diabetes, insulin-stimulated glucose transport into tissues, and diabetic complications such as neuropathy. Visit each faculty member's profile, by clicking each name below, to learn more about individual research interests.

Faculty who conduct research in this area include:
Alison Affinati, MD, Lynn Ang, MD, Anoop Arunagiri, PhD, Peter Arvan, MD, PhD, David Broome, MD, Charles Burant, MD, PhD, Eric Buras, MD, PhD, Tae-Hwa Chun, MD, PhD, Corentin Cras-Méneur, PhD, Maria Foss de Freitas, MD, PhD, Leena Haataja, PhD, William Herman, MD, Mehboob Hussain, MD, Yu Kuei (Alex) Lin, MD, Ormond MacDougald, PhD, Kara Mizokami-Stout, MD, Martin Myers, MD, PhD, Elif Oral, MD, Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, Ling Qi, PhD, Nathan Qi, PhD, Rachel Reinert, MD, PhD, Amy Rothberg, MD, Leslie Satin, PhD, Brian Schmidt, DPM, Randy Seeley, PhD, Vaibhav Sidarala, PhD, Scott Soleimanpour, MD, Meng Tan, MD, Emily Walker, PhD, Lei Yin, PhD

The pituitary research program involves studies of growth hormone secretion, sex steroid regulation of growth hormone secretion, and optimizing treatments of acromegaly. Visit each faculty member's profile, by clicking each name below, to learn more about individual research interests.

Faculty who conduct research in this area include:
Ariel Barkan, MD, Malcolm Low, MD, PhD, Joanna Spencer-Segal, MD

Studies of endocrine hypertension range from patient-based analyses of relationships between adiposity and hypertension, roles of fat in steroid hormone metabolism, as well as animal model studies to analyze the roles of G-protein mediated signaling and PPAR nuclear receptor activation in lipid and glucose metabolism. Visit each faculty member's profile, by clicking each name below, to learn more about individual research interests.

Faculty who conduct research in this area include: 
Richard Auchus, MD, PhD,  J. Brian Byrd, MD, MS, Tobias Else, MD, Sangchoul Im, PhD, Richard Mortensen, MD, PhD, Hwei-Ming Peng, PhD, William Rainey, PhD, Adina Turcu, MD, MS

The thyroid research program includes studies on thyroid cancer, thyroid hormone biosynthesis defects, thyroid hormone receptors and their actions on target tissues, and the role of retinoids in development and cellular differentiation. Visit each faculty member's profile, by clicking each name below, to learn more about individual research interests.

Faculty who conduct research in this area include:
Peter Arvan, MD, PhD, Megan Haymart, MD, Ronald Koenig, MD, Maria Papaleontiou, MD, Bin Xu, PhD

Advanced training and collaborative research involving faculty, fellows, medical students, and graduate students expands the base of scientific knowledge required for cures and improved clinical outcomes. Our centers for basic research are:

• Michigan Diabetes Research Center (MDRC)
• Michigan Center for Diabetes Translational Research (MCDTR)
• Michigan Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (MNORC)
• Michigan Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC) 

Our division also conducts research in collaboration with the Michigan Medicine Rogel Cancer Center. Research programs include:

• Adrenal Tumor Research Program
• Endocrine Oncology Research Program
• Thyroid Cancer Research Program

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disease research takes place on the fifth and sixth floors in the Brehm Tower, named for Bill and Delores (Dee) Brehm, providing 33,000 net square feet for research labs, systems analysis and bioinformatics offices, a "Cure Room" convening space, and related support. Their $44 million dollar gift to the University of Michigan, along with their dedication and hard work, has catalyzed a new and different framework for diabetes research that is based on laboratory and clinical discovery and collaboration. Their personal mission is to apply the tools of research and analysis to find and deliver a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The research team consists of a multidisciplinary group of world-renowned scientists who are leaders in their fields; whose focus is to understand, improve, prevent, and cure diabetes. These scientists represent the spectrum of diabetes inquiry - type 1 diabetes, diabetes management, complications of diabetes, and factors leading to type 2 diabetes, such as metabolism and obesity issues. These facets are explored in bench labs with mice and cells, as well as clinical studies with human patients. The research lab area has an open layout, where proximity to each other allows for a unique intellectual synergy and sharing of ideas and resources. The team works closely together to foster new knowledge in the lab and translate this into new therapies for patients. 

Research areas include:
Type 1 Diabetes, Animal & Cell Research, Type 2 Diabetes, and Metabolism & Obesity - Peter Arvan, MD, PhD, Charles Burant, MD, PhD, Corentin Cras-Méneur, PhD, Arun Das, PhD, Charles Evans, PhD, Brigid Gregg, MD, Leena Haataja, PhD, Malcolm Low, MD, PhD, Ormond MacDougald, PhD, Anna Mathew, MD, Martin Myers, MD, PhD, David Olson, MD, PhD, Elif Oral, MD, Subramaniam Pennathur, MD, Ling Qi, PhD, Nathan Qi, PhD, Leslie Satin, PhD, Santiago Schnell, DPhil, Scott Soleimanpour, MD

Diabetes Complications and Management - Lynn Ang, MD, William Herman, MD, MPH, Israel Hodish, MD, PhD, Kara Mizokami-Stout, MD, Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD

Finding a cure for diabetes takes collaboration. Translating research out of the lab into improved treatments for patients takes a united front of committed scientists, clinicians, and the ongoing generosity of our donors. We have an unwavering commitment to diabetes research and care. To make a gift, please visit our online giving page.

The Diabetes Complications Group is a multidisciplinary consortium of research scientists, clinicians, health professionals, and technicians dedicated to the elucidation of disease mechanisms as they relate to the complications of diabetes. Their goal is to translate the understanding of disease mechanisms (i.e., neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy) into novel preventative and curative treatments for diabetic complications.