Mingming Hao, Ph.D.

The Hao laboratory aims to understand why type 2 diabetes occurs and how it can be prevented. The lab focuses on the pancreatic beta-cells, which are the only cells that make and release insulin in response to an increase in glucose levels.  Pancreatic islet dysfunction leading to insufficient glucose-stimulated insulin secretion triggers the clinical onset of diabetes. The lab also uses in vitro and in vivo systems to study the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of beta-cell dysfunction during type 2 diabetes development.