Biography & Research:
The ultimate goal of my research is to prevent the occurrence of diabetes in the public and to develop effective treatments for all kinds of diabetic patients, using state-of-the-art cell biology and molecular biology tools. My first focus is to generate new beta-cells by promoting beta-cell replication, which requires precise dissection of the interplay among different signaling pathways that control beta-cell replication. My second focus is to protect beta-cell identity and prevent functional loss of beta-cells during disease-associated stress or aging. My third focus is the crosstalk between beta cells and other cell types like endothelial cells and macrophages, which play a pivotal role in regulation of beta cell function and homeostasis. My fourth focus is the molecular influence of one immune disease upon another (e.g. T1D, SLE, RA). My forth focus is diabetes-associated diseases, e.g. aging, Alzheimer’s disease.