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DERC - Boston Area
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114-2622
[WEBSITE]

The Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center (BADERC) is a consortium of laboratory-based and clinical investigators whose efforts are directed toward addressing many of the major research questions bearing on the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment and cure of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and their associated microvascular and atherosclerotic complications. The center Director (Joseph Avruch) and Associate Directors (Joel F. Habener and Brian Seed) are highly productive senior investigators of international stature in signal transduction, gene expression, molecular biology and immunology, topics central to advances in diabetes research. The participating scientists are based at a large number of Boston-area research institutions, primarily the major Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospitals (the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center) and the Boston University Medical Center, as well as several at the Harvard School of Arts and Sciences and other Harvard-affiliated research institutions (School of Public Health, the Dana-Farber Cancer center, the Scheppens Eye Research Institute), the New England Medical Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These investigators are working at the cutting edge of fields most relevant to defining the pathogenesis and optimal treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes: The molecular and genetic basis of insulin action and insulin resistance; the biology of the vascular system and beta cell; the immunologic basis and optimal therapies for autoimmunity and transplant rejection; the development of new methods for glycemic monitoring and control.

The BADERC offers these scientists an array of core support services (Molecular Biology; Cell Biology & Morphology; Transgenics; Radioimmunoassay and Monoclonal antibody generation; Fluorescent activated cell sorting and Metabolic Physiology) that incorporate the latest technical advances in molecular genetics, cell biology, and metabolic physiology provided by acknowledged experts. Most cores are heavily oriented towards hands-on training. Considerable expansion and upgrading of these services has occurred over the prior award period, and the utilization of these cost-effective, high quality support services has been robust. A new Proteomics core is proposed, poised to service both laboratory-based and clinical investigators. The BADERC also sponsors a highly competitive program of pilot and feasibility grants. The availability of cost effective support services of outstanding quality together with the educational and pilot grants program has catalyzed new programs and collaborations, and attracted to diabetes research new talent from this outstanding scientific community. a goal of the center to foster the closest interactions between the laboratory based and clinical scientists, so as to ensure the translation of research discoveries into advances in the care of diabetic patients.

Cores

Proteomics : The NIDDK-supported Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers (DERCs) and Diabetes Research and Training Centers (DRTCs) are part of an integrated program of diabetes and related endocrinology and metabolism research. Centers provide increased,..

Cell Biology & Image Analysis : The Microscopy Core provides technical services and help for morphological studies and immunocytochemical work at the light (e. g., immunofluorescence) and the electron microscopic (e. g., immunogold) levels. Members of BADERC are supported at..

Flow Cytometry : The purpose of this Immunology Flow Cytometry Core of the Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center (BADRC) is to provide flow cytometric techniques in a cost effective manner to the diabetes research community. The core is committed to..

Animal Physiology & Phenotyping :

Molecular Biology, Genomics & Genetics :

Transgenic & Gene Modification :

Assay & Analytical : The Radioimmunoassay Core provides technical services and help for immunoassays and the development of immunoreagents. Members of BADERC can access commercial clinical immunoassays for measuring a wide range of..

People

Dennis Brown, PhD : Core Director, . Phone: 617-726-5665

Joseph Avruch, M.D. : Center Director, . Phone: 617-726-6909

Denise Faustman, M.D.,Ph.D. : Director, Flow Cytometry Core, . Phone: 617-726-4084

Doug Burger, Ph.D. : Flow Cytomety Laboratory/Contact Person, . Phone: 617-724-9510

Barbara Kahn, MD : Director, Metabolic Physiology Core, . Phone: 617-667-5422

Ed Hadro : Metabolic Physiology Core/Contact Person, . Phone: 617-667-8578

Brian Seed, PhD : Associate Center Director and Director, Molecular Biology Core, . Phone: 617-726-5975

Stephen Belmonte : DNA Sequencing, Molecular Biology Core, . Phone: 617-726-0083

Shukui Guan, Ph.D. : DNA Synthesis, Molecular Biology Core, . Phone: 617-726-5983

David Levin : Facilities & Billing, Molecular Biology Core, . Phone: 617 726-5901

Bradford Lowell, MD, PhD : Director, Transgenic Core, . Phone: 617-667-5954

Patrick Sluss, Ph.D. : Director, Radioimmunoassay Core, . Phone: 617-726-4352

Joel F. Habener, M.D. : Associate Center Director, . Phone: 617-726-5190

Odile Peroni, Ph.D. : Associate Director, Metabolic Physiology Core, . Phone: 617-667-3249

Joel Lawitts, Ph.D. : Transgenic Core/Contact Person, . Phone: 617-667-7067