Newly founded Salk Center for Nutritional Genomics announces first major breakthroughs on diabetes and metabolism

Wer:

Dr. William R. Brody, President of the Salk Institute

Dr. Marc Montminy, Professor in the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology.

Dr. Reuben Shaw, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career scientist, Hearst Endowment Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Dr. Ronald M. Evans, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Professor, Professor of Gene Expression Laboratory, March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology

Why:

Dr. Reuben Shaw and Dr. Marc Montminy, both of Salk’s Helmsley Center for Nutritional Genomics, will be presenting two research studies disclosing critical discoveries in the area of diabetes and metabolism.

Dr. Montminy revealed how insulin increases fat storage during feeding in fruit flies.

Dr. Shaw discovered a novel “fasting pathway” that points the way to a new class of diabetes drugs that can restore abnormally high blood glucose level to normal.

Together, their studies reveal that so called HDACs (histone deacetylases), a group of enzymes that is the target of the latest generation of cancer drugs, play a central role in controlling the body’s energy balance and that HDAC inhibitors may provide a novel way to cut excessive blood glucose level at the source.

Information strictly embargoed until May 12, 2011, 12 noon US EST

Although the findings are the result of separate research efforts, it was the uniquely collaborative and targeted approach taken by members of the Salk Center for Nutritional Genomics that made this success story possible. The Center for Nutritional Genomics was founded two years ago with a $5.5 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Was:

Short presentations to announce findings by panelists followed by Q&A session.

Wann

Wo:     

Salk-Institut für biologische Studien

Trustee’s Room

10010 North Torrey Pines Rd

La Jolla, California 92037

(The Trustee’s Room is located on the 1st floor in Southeast building)

How:

TO COVER THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TALK TO THE SCIENTISTS:

Attend In Person:

RSVP to reserve a place at the discussion to be held in the Trustee’s Room at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

(Parking and directions available upon request)

Online Viewing/Participation:
View the press event live online at www.salk.edu/diabetes and ask questions using the Chat feature.

Phone Participation:

1 – Dial the toll-free number: 888-387-8686
2 – Enter the code: 3252354 and press #

(International callers: 001-720-259 -0759)

Questions can submitted ahead of time via twitter by tweeting @salkinstitute and using the hashtag #salkdiabetes or sending them via email to communications@salk.edu