IGP 8002-24 – Bioregulation II/Molecular Aspects of Obesity and Diabetes

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

IGP 8002-24. Molecular Aspects of Obesity and Diabetes. This module is designed to introduce first-year IGP students to some of the major areas of interest in the fields of obesity and diabetes research. A key player in these diseases is the hormone insulin that is secreted from the beta cells of pancreatic islets. In the first part of the course the lecturers will discuss the characteristics of diabetes and obesity in terms of whole-body metabolism. The use of mouse models, a major tool to study metabolism, will be emphasized. The second part of the course will focus on mechanisms of hormone action at the molecular level. The third part of the course will focus on the regulation of lipid metabolism and the latest theories on the molecular causes of obesity. The final part of the course will focus on the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas: how they develop, how beta cell gene transcription is controlled and how insulin secretion is regulated. Each lecture will be presented by faculty member who is an expert in that area. The NIH- funded Molecular Endocrinology Training Program (METP) provides support for eight IGP students in the second and third years of their graduate studies. The METP strongly encourages students who wish to be considered for METP funding take this module.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Time: 9 am – 9:55 am
Credit: 1 hour
Information: Call Richard O’Brien at 936-1503/1629