Our Research
We are dedicated to bringing together researchers and clinicians from multiple disciplines to further our understanding and treatment of diabetes, musculoskeletal disease, atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia.
- Faculty research efforts focus on diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, novel genetic diseases, the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia.
- The KU Diabetes Institute is directed by Dr. John Thyfault
- Clinical Pharmacology research is led by Dr. Patrick Moriarty, who is one of the world's foremost authorities on LDL-apheresis, a procedure that filters the plasma resulting in an acute reduction of LDL cholesterol, markers of inflammation, and blood rheology.
Additional staff includes pharmacists, clinical nurses, a dietitian, ultrasound technician and research study coordinators.
Dr. Moriarty's research interests include atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, and blood rheology. He has completed over 75 clinical research studies as a principal investigator or co-investigator. Research grants involve hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, post-menopause, and obesity.
He also participates in research related to LDL-apheresis and its potential use for congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, retinal artery occlusion, and peripheral vascular disease. He has published extensively, sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Apheresis and Future Lipidology, and has successfully established his own clinic at the University of Kansas Medical Center for the treatment and prevention of vascular disease.