Graeme Bell

Graeme  Bell is a leading authority on the molecular genetics of diabetes mellitus and directs a large and active program which aims to identify diabetes susceptibility genes. He has identified certain genes that are responsible for the autosomal, dominantly-transmitted maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Ongoing studies in his laboratory include the genetics of type 2 diabetes in the Mexican-American population of Starr County, Texas; the effect of mutations in the insulin gene on insulin biosynthesis and pancreatic beta-cell function; the identification of modifiers of proteostasis in a novel Drosophila system expressing a mutant human insulin (INSC96Y) in different tissues; and translation of discoveries in diabetes genetics to diagnosis and treatment.