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 Mark
Atkinson , PhD
atkinson@ufl.edu
The research program of Dr. Atkinson is broad in scope, but is
ultimately directed at identifying a prevention and/or cure for
type 1 (i.e., insulin dependent, juvenile) diabetes. Key to achieving
this goal is an improved understanding of the interactions between
environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors that underlie the
inability to form immunological tolerance to the insulin secreting
pancreatic beta cells. In order to achieve this goal, three avenues
of research are actively pursued. The first is that of identifying
potential environmental agents (e.g., viruses, diet) that may either
directly initiate or modify the progression towards diabetes. The
second involves immunogenetics; identifying abnormalities in the
humoral and cellular immune response which in association with genetic
susceptibility, influence the progression to disease. It is hoped
that these factors may be utilized as markers for predicting future
cases of diabetes. Finally, the laboratory seeks to directly define
methods (e.g., immunointervention with self-antigens, gene therapy)
for disease prevention in non-diabetic subjects identified to be
at increased-risk for the disease, or diabetic subjects through
pancreatic transplantation in association with novel forms of immunotherapy.
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