We’re combining fundamental science, genomic medicine and digital health to address this nationwide epidemic.

A growing number of people are living with obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders. In the U.S. alone, more than 30 million people have diabetes—and another 84 million are prediabetic, on track to develop the disease within five years. At Scripps Research, we are working to address this urgent global health need. Our scientists are exploring how the body processes nutrients at the cellular level and how these systems become disrupted. We are identifying signaling pathways between the brain and the gut and understanding how to modulate these pathways to improve health.

The scientists and doctors at the Scripps Research Translational Institute add another layer of knowledge. They combine clinical research, genomic medicine, digital technologies and artificial intelligence to develop prevention strategies and improve patient health. Employing our cutting-edge technologies, one team uncovered distinct molecular “signatures” among people with obesity that predict their risk of developing diabetes. The findings give physicians a powerful new tool for helping patients adopt habits that prevent disease.

Diabetes and related metabolic disorders take a serious toll on patients, families and society at large. Our scientists are determined to stem the tide. We are developing a new understanding of these complex disorders and creating new treatments that can prevent or stop the physiological havoc they cause.