|
My interest in this field evolved naturally because of my training in
biochemistry, human genetics and epidemiology, as well as my research
regarding the epidemiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM),
which began in the early 1980�s. By the late 1980�s, studies from
Massimo Trucco�s lab at our Diabetes Research Center led to the discovery
of molecular markers of IDDM susceptibility (HLA-DQB1 alleles)
associated with more than a 100-fold increase in risk. The magnitude of
these disease associations were unparalleled. At the same time, our
research center became a WHO
Collaborating Center for Diabetes Registries, Research and Training
(Ronald LaPorte and Janice Dorman, Co-Directors),
coordinating the WHO Multinational Project for Childhood Diabetes, known
as the DiaMond Project. The incidence registries established for DiaMond
in countries around the world, the discovery of a strong molecular maker
of IDDM susceptibility and my participation in these research efforts
provided the perfect "natural setting" to embark on a career in
molecular epidemiology.
|
