Dr. Shuldiner’s major research interests are in the molecular basis and genetics of type-2 diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance. He has published over 130 original articles and 50 review articles. His studies of type-2 diabetes candidate genes include studies in African Americans, Pima Indians, Mexican Americans and Caucasians. His group was the first to discover a common mutation in the beta-3-adrenergic receptor (Trp64Arg) that influences several features of the insulin resistance syndrome, including insulin resistance, obesity and visceral fat accumulation. His group was also the first to describe a common variant in the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma-2 gene (Pro12Ala PPAR¿2), which associates with obesity, increased insulin sensitivity and protection from type 2 diabetes. Most recently, his group has utilized genome scan/positional cloning approaches to identify several chromosomal regions that are likely to harbor susceptibility genes for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and hyperlipidemia in the Old Order Amish. These studies in the Amish have recently been expanded to include genetic studies of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, autoimmune thyroid disease, longevity and pharmacogenomics. Dr. Shuldiner has broad-based financial support for his research including NIH, American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Ellison Foundation and biotech/pharmaceuticals.

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