The group generates and analyzes emerging genetic data in order to:

  • help provide a more refined understanding of disease, both by dissecting its clinical heterogeneity and illuminating novel mechanistic pathways;
  • offer a “proof of conceptĀ” for the role of selected genetic variants significantly associated with diabetes or related traits, by showing that experimental, behavioral or pharmacological manipulation of a particular gene pathway alters specific phenotypes in humans and other model systems; and
  • contribute to usher in the era of genomic medicine, in which the practical utility of known genetic variants is demonstrated in the prediction of disease, prognosis of its clinical course, response to preventive or therapeutic options, and individual susceptibility to side effects.

From fundamental genetic discovery to clinical application

To achieve these objectives, our research covers the entire arc from fundamental genetic discovery to clinical application. Our multidisciplinary team focuses on the following set of activities:

To succeed on these goals, broad expertise is needed

Our diverse team is composed of basic biologists, human geneticists, statistical analysts, computational scientists, software engineers, clinical research coordinators, and physician scientists.

We collaborate with many colleagues around the world to advance the genetics of type 2 diabetes and conduct research that will ideally enable clinicians to personalize therapy to treat their patients.

Our group unites a premier academic hospital with a leading genomics institute, in a seamless arrangement that straddles both institutions. We are situated in the MGH Center for Genomic Medicine on the 5th floor of the Simches Research Building in the MGH main campus, and in the Diabetes Research Group of the Programs in Metabolism and Medical & Population Genetics , on the 10th floor of the Broad Institute.