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RESEARCH GROUPS
Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology
Programme: P3
Lead Researcher: Burks, Deborah Group members
STAFF MEMBERS: Acosta Umanzor, Carlos René | Noon, Luke ASSOCIATED MEMBERS: González Navarro, Herminia | Leal Tassias, Aranzazu | Moreno Gimeno, Inmacu-
lada | Sánchez Pérez, Ana María | Sanz González, Silvia María
Main lines of research
The incidence of diabetes and obesity is increasing at alarming rates throughout the world, creating a significant social and economic burden in industrialised countries . Defective expression or function of insulin signalling pathway components, such as the IRS (insulin receptor substrate) proteins, causes insulin resistance, which occurs with normal ageing but is also a hallmark of disease states such as diabetes . The overall aim of our research is to understand precisely how impaired insulin signalling contributes to metabolic diseases . Our research therefore focuses on several major themes:
• Regulation of the cell cycle in pancreatic beta cells . • The role of IRS-2 signals in the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to progenitors of pan-
creas and liver . • IRS-2 signalling in the regulation of neuronal function . • The role of insulin/IGF-I signalling in diabetic retinopathy . • The role of IRS2 in adipocyte progenitors and development of obesity .
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CIBERDEM » Annual report 2014