Onengut-Gumuscu, Suna
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Medicine: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Contact Information
PO Box 800717
Telephone: 2-0366
Email: so4g@virginia.edu
Research Interests
Genetics of Type 1 Diabetes Genetics of Complex diseases
Research Description
My research focuses on understanding the genetic causes of complex diseases. The lab is particularly interested in identification of genetic variants that influence the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is a complex disorder, which arises from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin secreting b-cells of the pancreas leading to a life-long dependence on exogenous insulin. The increased concordance rates for T1D in monozygotic, as opposed to dizygotic twins as well as the tendency for the disorder to cluster within families suggest that a portion of the risk for T1D is inherited. We use a variety of genomic tools, high throughput oriented technology and analysis methods to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic risk in T1D. Ultimately identification of the genetic risk factors that play a role in T1D will help us understand the mechanisms that lead to autoimmunity in T1D and assist researchers in devising preventive and therapeutic treatments.