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Research

The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases prioritizes collaboration between clinical and basic science research to advance understanding and treatment of endocrine disorders.

Our research focuses on diabetes and its vascular complications, diabetes in pregnancy, and lipidology, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary partnerships. We foster collaboration among clinicians, basic scientists, and investigators both on campus and in the broader community to drive integrated research efforts. Additionally, we are committed to engaging with communities disproportionately affected by diabetes to address health challenges and disparities, while also providing meaningful research opportunities for trainees.

MUSC EDIC Study Site Honored

MUSC’s EDIC study site was honored with the Julio Santiago Diabetes Research Clinic Achievement Award at the 2024 EDIC meeting. As one of 27 medical centers contributing to the EDIC study, MUSC plays a vital role in advancing diabetes research. The MUSC site team, led by Harsha Karanchi, M.D., as principal investigator, alongside co-investigators Drs. Kathie Hermayer, Jyotika Fernandes, and Timothy Lyons, and Lori Spillers, RN, oversees 50 participants originally enrolled in the landmark DCCT study (1983–1988).

Advancing Diabetes Research at MUSC

At MUSC, our diabetes research spans generations, following patients throughout their lives. This long-term commitment from our investigators and funding partners has led to groundbreaking discoveries that continue to shape diabetes care worldwide.

Our team has played a pivotal role in some of the most influential clinical diabetes studies, contributing to unique biological sample sets that drive ongoing research.

Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) & Epidemiology of Diabetes and Complications (EDIC)
Since the mid-1980s, the DCCT/EDIC study has tracked 1,441 individuals with Type 1 diabetes, with over 95% of the 1,200 surviving participants still engaged today. These studies revolutionized diabetes care, proving that tight glucose control can prevent complications. The DCCT findings are considered the most significant advancement for people with diabetes since the discovery of insulin in 1921. From the outset, MUSC investigators have been deeply involved, bringing new ideas and securing major funding for laboratory-based research.

A Unique Resource for Discovery
With over $15 million in federal funding, our research at MUSC is uncovering why diabetes leads to blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death—and how we can prevent these complications. The biological samples housed at MUSC are entirely unique, enabling studies that cannot be conducted anywhere else. Their value grows over time, ensuring that future discoveries and potential cures will continue to emerge from MUSC’s research.

Veterans Administration Diabetes Trial (VADT)
MUSC was also a key site in the Veterans Administration Diabetes Trial (VADT), a nationwide study involving 1,791 participants across 20 VA sites. This trial assessed the impact of intensive glucose control on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with Type 2 diabetes, shaping current approaches to diabetes management.

Through sustained commitment and cutting-edge research, MUSC remains at the forefront of transforming diabetes care and improving lives for future generations.

Research Labs

Lab of Yan Huang, M.D., Ph.D.