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DERC - University of Pennsylvania
700E Clinical Research Building (CRB)
Philadelphia, PA
[WEBSITE]

The Penn Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center (DERC) participates in the nationwide inter-disciplinary program established over two decades ago by the NIDDK to foster research and training in the areas of diabetes and related endocrine and metabolic disorders. The Penn DERC is located at and administered by the University of Pennsylvania. It serves over 90 diabetes-oriented investigators primarily from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, but also from other Schools within the University of Pennsylvania as well as additional Philadelphia institutions including Jefferson and Temple.

The Penn DERC is highly interactive and interdisciplinary, representing many basic science and clinical departments at Penn and the other institutions. The Research Base of the Penn DERC includes investigators organized in the following 4 focus areas:

The Penn DERC facilitates and supports research in diabetes and endocrinology in a variety of ways. Six Biomedical Research Core facilities are designed to facilitate the inter-disciplinary investigations of Penn DERC scientists:

  1. Genomics and Gene Targeting Core
  2. Islet Cell Biology Core
  3. Mouse Phenotyping, Physiology and Metabolism Core
  4. Radioimmunoassay/Biomarkers Core
  5. Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core
  6. Viral Vector Core

A Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program that has been extremely successful for over two decades serves to nurture new investigators in diabetes and to foster new initiatives in diabetes. An intensive Academic Enrichment Program organizes weekly Diabetes and Endocrinology Research seminars, monthly interdisciplinary and translational focus discussions, and an annual Diabetes Day symposium as well as other activities that facilitate communication and collaboration of Penn DERC investigators while keeping them abreast of the latest discoveries in diabetes and endocrinology.

Penn DERC investigators mentor trainees at every level (undergraduate, predoctoral, and post-doctoral Ph.D., M.D., and combined M.D./Ph.D), and the DERC academic activities provide a superb environment for training in diabetes research. An Administrative Component coordinates and publicizes the Biomedical Cores, Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program, and Academic Enrichment Program. These functions of the Penn DERC maintain the diabetes-related research program at this Center at the forefront of biomedical science

Cores

Molecular Biology, Genomics & Genetics : The Genomics and Gene Targeting Core offers fee-for-service microarray experimental design, sample hybridization and analysis. The global aim of the Core is to provide our clients with a complete microarray package, from the initial steps of..

Islet Cell Biology : It is the purpose of this core to assist investigators who currently study or have plans to study independently or collaboratively various aspects of pancreatic islet cell biology

Animal Physiology & Phenotyping : To offer expertise and services for determining the metabolic and endocrine phenotpyes of mice with diabetes, obesity and related disorders.To create a database of physiologic, endocrine and metabolic measurements in mice.

Assay & Analytical : The objectives of the Radioimmunoassay and Biomarker Core includes:delivery of new services to existing and new investigatorsdevelopment of informatics infrastructure for efficient delivery of serviceengage..

Transgenic & Gene Modification : The Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core has generated a wide range of transgenic and gene-targeted mouse lines that have proven to be powerful tools for the study of the molecular biology and physiology of Type I and Type II diabetes, obesity, and..

Vector Core : The main objective of the Viral Vector Core is to provide DERC center members access to state-of-the-art vector technology for preclinical studies.

People

Jonathan Schug, Ph.D. : Technical Director, . Phone: (215) 898-0773

Franz M. Matschinsky, M.D. : Proffesor of Biochemistry and Biophysics ,Director of Islet Biology Core , University of Pennsylvania 605 CRB 15 Curie Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19104-6015. Phone: (215)-898-4368

Nicolai Doliba, Ph.D., D.Sc. : Senior Research Investigator , Technical Director of Islet Biology Core , University of Pennsylvania 605 CRB 15 Curie Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19104-6015. Phone: (215)-898-4368

Carol Buettger : Senior Research Specialist, . Phone: 215-898-5879

Habiba Najafi : Research Specialist, islet cell isolation team, . Phone: 215-898-4368

Qin Wei : Research Specialist, islet cell isolation, culture and functional testing, . Phone: 215-898-4368

Rex Ahima, M.D., Ph.D., : Director, Mouse Phenotyping, Physiology and Metabolism Core, . Phone: 215-573-1873

Ravindra Dhir, PhD : Technical Director, Senior Research Laboratory Manager , . Phone: (P) 215-573-1874(F) 215-573-5809

Xiao Y. Yin, Ph.D. : Research Specialist, Mouse Phenotyping, Physiology and Metabolism Core, 771 Clinical Research Building. Phone: (P) 215-573-1873(F) 215-573-5809

Muredach Reilly, MBBCh : Director, Radioimmunoassay and Biomarkers Core , . Phone: 215-573-1214

Heather W. Collins, PhD : Technical Director, Radioimmunoassay and Biomarkers Core , . Phone: 215-898-4368

Xiaolan Li : Research Specialist, Radioimmunoassay and Biomarkers Core , . Phone: 215-898-4368

Brenda J. Spurgeon : Research Specialist, Radioimmunoassay and Biomarkers Core , . Phone: 215-898-4365

Nancy E. Cooke, M.D. : Co-Director, Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core , . Phone: 215-898-4425

Jean Richa, Ph.D. : Technical Director, Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core , . Phone: 215/898-6064 (office) or 215/573-3023

Pei Fu He, Ph.D. : Research Specialist, Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core , . Phone: 215-573-3023 or 215-746-6392

Haoren Wang : Research Specialist, Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core , . Phone: 215-573-3023; 215-746-6392

Mitchell A. Lazar, M.D., Ph.D. : Center Director, . Phone: 215-898-0198

Morris J. Birnbaum, M.D., Ph.D. : Associate Center Director, . Phone: 215-898-9345

Klaus Kaestner, Ph.D. : Director, Genomics and Gene Targeting Core , . Phone: 215-898-8759

Doris A. Stoffers, M.D., Ph.D. : Director, Pilot & Feasibility Program, . Phone: 215-573-5413

Stephen A. Liebhaber, M.D. : Co-Director, Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Core, . Phone: 215-898-7834

Julie Johnston, Ph.D. : Director, Viral Vector Core, . Phone: 215-573-0633