Dr. Mark O Goodarzi, MD, PhD

The lab of Mark Goodarzi, MD, PhD, seeks to identify genetic factors underlying conditions related to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, using a population genetic approach. A major focus area is elucidation of the genetic determinants of insulin clearance, via candidate gene and genome-wide association analyses. Other areas of interest include insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in Hispanics and the polycystic ovary syndrome. Pharmacogenetic studies are focused on the glycemic response to statins. Another research effort is an NIH-funded study examining the ability of GLP-1 agonists to prevent diabetes in Hispanic women with prediabetes, where insulin-related traits are measured by detailed physiologic phenotyping techniques. As the co-convener of the CHARGE (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology) Glycemia-Diabetes Working Group, Dr. Goodarzi also leads an international consortium that assembled over 20 cohorts (comprising over 100,000 …individuals) for the study of common and rare variants that contribute to glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Goodarzi also leads the Type 3c Diabetes Working Group within the U01-funded Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC), where he seeks to elucidate the pathophysiology of pancreatogenic diabetes using genetic and physiologic approaches. Dr. Goodarzi also leads the Microbiome and Insulin Longitudinal Evaluation Study (MILES), which is the first prospective study examining the effect of the gut microbiome and diet on insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, and insulin clearance, to establish the causal role of gut microbes in the development of diabetes.