Desmond Schatz, MD

Doctors can’t prevent diabetes. But detecting the disease earlier can help them fight it, which
is why Dr. Desmond Schatz has spent years studying genetic predictors of the disease.
With one pinprick doctors can discover whether a newborn is predisposed to developing the disease.
“I have some patients who are 25, 26 years old,” he said. “I have taken care of them for 15
years. You build relationships with people.”

Dr Schatz is Professor and Associate Chairman of Pediatrics, Medical Director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence and Director of the UF CRC at the University of Florida, Gainesville.  He has been involved in Type 1 diabetes research since the mid 80s and has published over 200 manuscripts, the majority related to the prediction, natural history, genetics, immunopathogenesis and prevention of the disease, as well as the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) on several JDRF and NIH awards. He is PI on JDRF funded studies aimed at reversing Type1 diabetes using autologous stem cells (cord blood) and is currently PI the of the University of Florida Clinical Center participating in the NIH-funded TrialNet. He serves as co-PI on a Program Project Grant looking at the immunopathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes, and also serves as co-PI for the NIH-funded international newborn genetic screening (TEDDY) program in North Central Florida.  He has served in numerous capacities for the American Diabetes Association including study sections and site visits.

Research Overview

Up to 3 million Americans are stricken with type 1 diabetes, but the epidemic spans the globe and is rapidly worsening. The frequency of the disease has already soared five-fold in the past 50 years alone, and the costs to human health come into sharp focus. Diabetes is one of six leading causes of death in the United States, and the No. 1 cause of acquired blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic amputation. It also fuels cardiovascular disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer, and accounts for more than $174 billion in health-care expenditures, with type 1 diabetes accounting for a disproportionate share of those costs. Dr Schatz’ research has focused on the prediction, natural history, genetics, immunopathogenesis and prevention of Type 1 diabetes, as well as the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

Current Clinical Trials

Staff

Key Publications

Dr Schatz has published over 180 manuscripts and book chapters, the majority pertaining to the prediction, natural history, genetics, immunopathogenesis and prevention of the disease, as well as the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.  More…

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