Research in the Drucker lab is focused on understanding the biology of the glucagon-like peptides. Specific projects include physiological analyses of GLP-1 and GLP-2 action, understanding the biology of glucagon action, and elucidation of the functional control of GLP-1, GIP, and GLP-2 action through studies of their respective receptors.
Students and research fellows utilize a combination of techniques that involve cell culture, studies of signal transduction, cell proliferation and apoptosis, with a major emphasis on generation and phenotypic analysis of mice with disruption of gut hormone action. The lab employs rodent models to delineate novel physiological concepts of gut hormone and glucagon-like peptide action with a focus on potential therapeutic relevance to diabetes and intestinal disease.
Glucagon-like peptide-1
The lab maintains an active research interest in studying multiple aspects of GLP-1 action, including the GLP-1-regulated control of glucose homeostasis, and the role of GLP-1 signaling in the central nervous system and heart. These studies employ cell lines, normal rodents, transgenic mice that over-express GLP-1 analogues, and mice with disrupted GLP-1 receptor signaling. The lab is also interested in studying the biology of GLP-1R agonists. The lab uses a combination of approaches to delineate the pharmacological and physiological actions of GLP-1 including analyses of Glp1r-/- mice to understand the importance of GLP-1 for glucoregulation, intestina, nervous system, immunel and cardiovascular biology. We are also carrying out studies to delete or rescue GLP-1 receptor function in specific murine tissues via a transgenic approach in vivo.
Given the biological importance of the incretin hormone GIP, the lab is also studing the role of the GIP in different tissues, from the immune system to the brain, using Gipr-/- mice, and genetic approaches for understanding GIP action in different tissues.
Glucagon-like peptide-2
The lab is using mouse genetics and both gain and loss of function experiments to understand the role of GLP-2 in vivo. Current projects include studies of GLP-2 receptor signaling, and studies of both gain and loss of GLP-2 receptor signaling in vivo. The lab employs rodent models of intestinal disease to identify potential therapeutic actions of GLP-2 in vivo. A major focus of the lab is to understand the mechanisms of GLP-2 action by analysis of the downstream targets of GLP-2 in vivo.
Glucagon
The lab continues to focus on studies directed at understanding the physiology of glucagon action and wherever possible uses mouse models to complement data obtained from cell-based studies in vitro. More recent studies are focused on analysis of tissue-specific control of glucagon receptor action using genetically engineered mice, as exemplified by Gcgr-/- mice..
For an overview of recent work, see Drucker Lab Publications and the Drucker Lab Google Scholar Profile
For additional coverage of our work see
Time 100 Health Paving the way for new weight loss drugs
The Ground Truths Podcast hosted by Eric Topol
The GLP-1 story- April 2024
The Wolf Prize for Medicine 2023
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame 2022
Canada Gairdner Foundation Lecture on the Glucagon-like peptides 2021
The Guardian-Gut health game changer
JCI Conversations in Medicine Article Video
Drucker profile National Academy of Sciences
Canada Gairdner International Award 2021 for the glucagon-like peptides Q&A Drs. Rossand $ Drucker April 7 2021
Warren Alpert Foundation Prize 2020 The Warren Alpert Foundation 2020 Symposium on Glucagon-like Peptides
Gut Instincts: The endocrinologists behind the 2020 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize
DruckerResearchTorontoStarFeb2020
Endocrine Society 2020 Baxter Award
http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/201910/News/Peptides/
EASD Novo Nordisk Prize for Diabetes Research 2019 Video
NN Foundation EASD 2019 Award brochure
The Manning Foundation Award GLP-2 Video 2018
https://www.the-asci.org/awards/harrington-prize/2017-drucker-habener-holst