Diabetes and Transcription Factors
The causes of beta-cell failure are not well understood, but we know there are changes in these cells’ gene expression that can yield clues about what is going wrong. Through the use of a variety of tissue-specific knockout and transgenic mice we hope to identify why beta cell failure occurs as well as ways to improve beta cell function and thereby treat human diabetes. We are currently focussing on a gene called ARNT, which is decreased by 90% in the beta cell containing islets of people with type 2 diabetes. It seems to be a master gene that controls other genes involved in beta-cell function, including glucose breakdown and insulin production. We are now looking at ways to control ARNT.
Staff
 PhD StudentDr SueMei Lau |
 PhD
StudentDr Kenneth Ho |
 Research AssistantRebecca Stokes |
 PhD
StudentKim Cheng |
 PhD StudentChristopher Scott |
 PhD StudentDr Sue Lynn Lau |
 Research AssistantMatthew Adams |
 Research AssistantKuan Minn Cha |
News
Regulating the sugar factory in diabetes
MEDIA RELEASE:
19 May 2009
Scientists at Garvan, Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Centre in Boston believe they may have identified a gene that controls abnormal production of sugar in the liver, a very troublesome problem for people with diabetes.
PhD student Sue Lynn Lau dances her way to Chicago
MEDIA RELEASE:
24 Nov 2008
It was announced on Friday that Garvan endocrinologist and PhD student, Dr Sue Lynn Lau, had won the Graduate Student category of the AAAS Science “Dance your PhD” contest. Her winning entry is on YouTube and interprets her PhD, The role of vitamin D in beta-cell function.
Garvan scientist wins L’Oréal For Women In Science Fellowship
26 Sep 2007
Senior Garvan scientist, Dr Jenny Gunton, was one of four inspirational early career scientists to be awarded an inaugural L’Oréal For Women In Science Fellowship in late August. The award will help Gunton pursue her interest in the link between Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes and Vitamin D.
