Metabolism-focused diabetes research at Michigan, which primarily impacts our understanding and treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, has three main thrusts - the role of the insulin-producing islets, the handling of sugar, fat, and other nutrients (and how these go awry in diabetes); and the roles for the gut and the brain.
CDI connects world-leading scientists and clinicians that study how the body stores and utilizes nutrients, and how changes in the storage and utilization of fat (or other nutrients) can cause type 2 diabetes, some of whom study the cause and potential cures for obesity. Recent work from these programs has revealed important new information about how treatments (surgery/medications) act in the brain to alleviate obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Atypical Diabetes Program
The Atypical Diabetes Program here at the University of Michigan is a multi-disciplinary collaboration of endocrinologists and genetecists that specialize in rare and/or atypical forms of Diabetes that do not fit into the common definitions of Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes.
Our group consists of top experts in both Lipodystrophy (including one of the largest ongoing lipodystrophy registries internationally) & Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) (which includes the original and first described MODY cohort, and longest longitudinally followed MODY registry internationally).
Further, our current researchers are active in several NIH- and industry-sponsored clinical trials that seek to improve treatment for patients with rare and atypical forms of diabetes.
Our previously published work has led to fundamental discoveries that improve the treatment and care for patients with rare and atypical forms of diabetes, including, but not limited to:
- The discovery, and subsequent approval of Metreleptin for treatment for Lipodystrophy
- The use of GLP-1 RA for Lipodystrophy
- The use of Dual GIP/GLP-1 RA for Lipodystrophy
- The use of GLP-1 RA for HNF4A-MODY
- The use of oral GLP-1 RA for HNF1A-MODY
- The use of Dual GIP/GLP-1 RA for HNF1A-MODY and HNF4A-MODY
- The approach to MODY-Monogenic Diabetes
Current team members:
- Elif A. Oral, MD, MS
- David T. Broome, MD
- William H. Herman, MD, MPH
- Maria Foss de Freitas, MD, PhD
- Allison Affinati, MD, PhD
- Rachel Reinert, MD, PhD
- Colby L. Chase, MS, CGC
- Marie-Louise Accardo, MS, CGC
- Veronica Greve, MS, CGC,
- Elizabeth G. Ames, MD, PhD
- Shane C. Quinonez, MD
- Anthony Scott, MD
- Lauren Hipp, MS, CGC
- Jenna Damon, MS, CGC
- Wendy R. Uhlmann, MS, CGC
- Baris Akinci, MD
- Adam H. Neidert, MS
- Goutham Narla, MD, PhD
- Kristen Lee, MD
Ongoing/current studies here at the University of Michigan with links for getting involved:
- NIH U54DK118612: Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) – link: RADIANT | RADIANT (atypicaldiabetesnetwork.org)
- Long-Term Study of MODY-Monogenic Diabetes – if you have MODY, and would like to join the University of Michigan’s MODY registry, click this link (and a researcher will contact you): ***
- This is part of the PREcision DIabetes ConsorTium (PREDICT) – a funded large-scale, multi-institutional MODY data sharing agreement across the country
- Proof of Concept: Mechanism of Action and Efficacy of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) in HNF4A-MODY
If you, your family member, or healthcare provider suspect a genetic form of diabetes, please fill out this form (link: ***) and email it to ***.
We look forward to partnering with you in achieving the best healthcare outcomes for you and your loved ones from our leaders here at Michigan.