Diabetes Complications – The severity of vascular complications of diabetes is related to biological variation in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The goal of this project is to understand genetic and environmental factors in addition to glucose that influence individual susceptibility to both hemoglobin glycation and diabetes complications.

Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping – We are developing assays to comprehensively assess erythrocyte glucose metabolism in mice. The goal of this project is a panel of assays that will better characterize metabolic phenotypes and the complex genetic interactions that influence glucose metabolism.

Clinical and Biological Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis – Development and use of capillary electrophoresis-based assays has been and continues to be a focus of our laboratory. The present goal of this project is the development and application of microassays to measure hemoglobin variants, glycated hemoglobin, glutathione, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine in mouse blood.

Vascular Complications of Sickle Cell Anemia – Diabetes and sickle cell disease share some common pathophysiological traits, including chronic oxidative stress and vascular complications. Advanced glycation end products (AGE) have a demonstrated role in the etiology of diabetes vascular complications. We have recently demonstrated that circulating AGE levels are elevated in patients with sickle cell disease. The goal of this project is to determine the clinical and biochemical relevance of AGEs in sickle cell pathophysiology.