Washington University has established two laboratories in conjunction with the Kilo Diabetes & Vascular Research Foundation. Dr. Emil Unanue coordinates the activities of the various laboratories. The focus is on the immunology of diabetes.

In December 2003, the Kilo Laboratory was the first in the world to provide evidence of a cure for Type 1 diabetes in mice. This information can lead to understanding and preventing Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases in humans.

Daved Fremont, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Bio-physics, is the chief investigator for the second Kilo lab. Dr. Fremont is trained in X-ray crystallography. His research involves identifying the fine crystal structure of the diabetogenic histocompatibility molecule. The eventual goal is to examine how proteins select ligands from the B-cell of the islet to stimulate lymphocytes.

Yasuo Ido, M.D., Ph.D., a fellow and former researcher under Dr. Williamson at the Kilo Laboratory, now at Boston University School of Medicine, continues Dr. Williamson's research to determine the mechanism by which C-peptide prevents or reverses vascular dysfunction caused by hyper-glycemia. His research will provide information needed for designing C-peptide trials in human subjects and may open the door for a new category of drugs for treating diabetic complications.

The Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University
In 1995, Dr. Sam Klein was asked to establish the Weight Management Program at Washington University. He has since grown the program to include a Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (CNRU), a Medical Weight Management Program, a Surgical Weight Management program and supplemental education all within the broader spectrum of the now Center for Human Nutrition (CHN). The Weight Management program operates in affiliation with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and is now the most comprehensive program in the metropolitan St. Louis area that offers medical, surgical, behavioral and nutritional specialists along with physical therapists collaborating to treat those suffering from weight problems.

The CHN functions in two capacites, one as a research unit and the other as a clinical services patient care giver.

The Research unit studies are broken down into five areas, two of which are specifically focused on Type 2 diabetes; lipid research and carbohydrates. Enhancing the research are two current clinical trials, one studying the effects of low carbohydrate diets as therapy for obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The second is studying the relationship between obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Clinical services ard focused within the Weight Management Program where patients are evaluated for admission to the program and where a determination is made as to the most appropriate treatment, medically, surgically, behaviorally or any combination.