Research

Current CTBR research activities focus on fatty liver diseases and diabetes. Scientists at the center are using state-of-the art tools and interdisciplinary approaches to uncover the biomolecules and mechanisms that cause these diseases. They are also exploring novel methods to prevent and treat these disorders, with a particular focus on dietary interventions.

• Fatty liver disease, in which excess lipids deposit in the liver, is an emerging worldwide health problem that currently affects more than 20% of adults and more than 5% of children. Center scientists are working to understand how imbalanced dietary consumption, such as over consumption of alcohol and fructose and the Western diet, contributes to the development of liver diseases such as fatty liver disease, hepatitis or steatohepatitis.
  Learn more at Dr. Zhou’s Research Website.

• Diabetes, a disease characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels, affects 29 million people in the U.S. alone and has estimated annual health care costs of $245 billion. Center scientists are working to find biomarkers for early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and diabetic complications, so preventative strategies can be administered in time for their eradication.
  Learn more at Dr. Zhang’s Research Website.