Jon Odorico
Credentials: Surgery Department
Position title: Embryonic stem cells to generate insulin producing cells for the treatment of diabetes and to study pancreatic islet development
Email: jon@surgery.wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 263-0388
Address:
Box 7375 Clinical Science Center
600 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53792
LAB WEBSITE:
https://www.surgery.wisc.edu/staff/jon-odorico/
FOCUS GROUPS:
Developmental Biology & Regenerative Medicine; Cellular & Molecular Metabolism; Immunology
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
My laboratory team studies pancreatic lineage differentiation, including the differentiation of insulin-producing islet endocrine cells, from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The work is designed to address two critical needs. First is the need to generate an unlimited supply of functional insulin-secreting beta cells to be used to replace damaged beta cells in patients with diabetes. Second is the need for a cell culture model to study, specifically, human pancreas and islet development, given known differences between humans and lower organisms and the inability to study human organ development in vivo. We work at the interface of stem cell biology, transplantation, islet biology, immunologic rejection, and developmental mechanisms.
ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology (ERP), Endocrinology (iPEND)