Lab Interests:
My lab is interested in understanding how human cells respond to extracellular cues to maintain and ensure their function and survival. One central focus is to study how the pancreatic beta cell converts feeding cues into signals leading to insulin production and secretion. We use high-throughput functional screens to identify novel players involved in different cell-signaling pathways, including human pancreatic beta cell proliferation and those involved in the maintenance of mitochondria, critical subcellular organelles essential for cell function and survival. In addition to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, our work impacts upon cancer and neurodegeneration.