Molecular perspectives of novel type 2 diabetes therapeutic strategies.
Can we start talking about a cure now?
March 14, 2023, 12:00 -12:50 pm
with Dr. Mourad Ferdaoussi
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial disease affecting more than 420 million people worldwide. Impairment of pancreatic ß cell insulin secretory capacity and the increase of peripheral insulin resistance are the leading cause of hyperglycemia in T2D. Understanding the etiology of these homeostasis dysregulations guided the development of diverse therapeutic strategies. During this Global Health Round, I will discuss the molecular basis of some novel drugs and strategies for improving glycemic control, T2D remission and beyond.
Mourad Ferdaoussi, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty Saint-Jean, the French Campus of the University of Alberta (U of A). Dr. Ferdaoussi received an MSc from the University of Lille (France) and a Ph.D. from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). He joined the Montreal Diabetes Research Center and the Alberta Diabetes Institute for his postdoctoral fellowship. He has been a Research Associate at the Department of Pediatrics of the U of A. Dr. Ferdaoussi's research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating pancreatic beta cell function and survival in physiological and pathophysiological conditions related to type 2 diabetes. He has published several articles on novel preclinical therapeutic approaches to tackle heart failure and systemic inflammation. Dr. Ferdaoussi has a strong teaching interest: in the last five years, he has taught 12 different courses related to biological and physiological sciences. He is an academic member of the Alberta Diabetes Institute and the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network and has received numerous awards, including the 2016 Med Star Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellows award from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry of the U of A and the 2008 Gabriel Baud award from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland).