Research Faculty

The researchers at the center represent a cross section of the UC Irvine campus. From Molecular Biology to Engineering, the research faculty is working to find a cure for diabetes and its complications on multiple fronts.

Dr. Ping Wang
Professor and Director
Center for Diabetes Research and Treatment

Mechanisms of type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular complications. Understanding the mechanism of diabetes will provide new opportunities to find a cure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in diabetes patients.

Dr. Bogi Andersen
Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) & Biological Chemistry

Skin development and skin barrier against infection in diabetes. Skin infection is a common problem among diabetic patients.

Dr. George Chandy
Professor of Physiology and Biophysics

Development of novel compounds to prevent type 1 diabetes by inhibiting immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing cells.

Dr. Ken Cho
Professor, Department of Developmental Biology at the School of Biological Sciences

Creation of new strategies to develop embryonic and adult stem cells into insulin-producing cells for transplantation into patients with type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Dan Cooper
Professor, General Clinical Research Center, Department of Pediatrics

The effect of exercise on human obesity. Greater understanding of the clinical aspect of exercise will provide better opportunities to prevent diabetes.

Dr. Pietro Galassetti
Assistant Professor in Residence, General Clinical Research Center

Regulation of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is the most frequent side effect of insulin use. Greater understanding of the mechanism of hypoglycemia will help us develop better strategies to treat patients with insulin.

Dr. Sheldon Greenfield
Professor, Department of Medicine

Health policy on diabetes care. The national standards of diabetes care have to be implemented through appropriate health policy.

Dr. Clarence Foster
Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery

Pancreas and islet cell transplantation.

Dr. Sherrie Kaplan
Associate Dean, Community Health and General Internal Medicine

Disparity of diabetes care in minority populations. Understanding the care-seeking behavior of minority diabetic patients will help close the gap in the disparity of health care availability these patients encounter.

Dr. Marc Madou
Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Development of miniature automatic implantable glucose sensors using nanotechnology. Such technology will revolutionize glucose testing and will improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.

Dr. Jogeshwar Mukherjee
Associate Professor in Residence, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Non-invasive imaging for precise assessment of islet cell mass in human diabetes. This new technology may revolutionize the prediction, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

Dr. Orhan Nalcioglu
Professor, Center for Onco-Imaging

New imaging technology for stem cells. This technology will help monitor the fate of islet cells transplanted into the patients.

Dr. Timothy Osborne
Professor & Chair, Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism and its effect on glucose regulation. This research will help us understand the interaction between cholesterol and diabetes.

Dr. Daniele Piomelli
Professor, Department of Pharmacology

Discovery of new compounds for regulation of appetite and obesity. Obesity is considered the number one precursor to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Maike Sander
Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental & Cell Biology

Development of insulin-producing cells from stem cells. Such development may provide an unlimited source of islet cells for transplantation—transplantation that may lead to a cure.

Dr. Douglas Wallace
Professor, Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics

Mitochondria genetics in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Dr. Wallace is studying how mitochondria gene defects lead to diabetes and its complications. His research team is engaged in making stronger stem cells that can be used to develop cell replacement therapy for diabetic patients.