The Corvera lab is studying how human adipose tissue develops, functions and influences whole-body metabolism.
Our research focuses on the biology of adipocytes and the progenitor cells that give rise to them. We investigate how different types of adipocytes affect insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, tissue repair and other physiological processes associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease.
A major focus of the laboratory is understanding and harnessing beige adipocytes, metabolically active fat cells that can burn energy and influence glucose metabolism. By combining human cell models, molecular and cellular biology and translational research, we are exploring ways to use adipose-derived cells and their biological properties as potential therapies for diabetes and its complications.
Silvia Corvera, MD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Corvera is the Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research and Professor of Molecular Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School.
Her research has helped define how adipose tissue development, mitochondrial function and adipocyte diversity influence insulin resistance and metabolism.
Lab Members Our Research
In The News
ABC Boston WCVB: Understanding Health Benefits of Beige Fat
Targeting Fat Tissue to Fight Type 2 Diabetes
Department of Defense Funding to Advance Potential Type 2 Diabetes Therapy
The Corvera lab is collaborating with Michael Czech, PhD, to investigate whether technologies developed in their labs will harness beige fat’s ability to burn energy and accelerate metabolism in order to improve the body’s response to sugar and lower blood glucose levels. Learn More