DR. DAVID C.W. LAU

B.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Toronto) M.D. (Toronto), F.R.P.C.(C) - Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology,

Affiliations: Director, Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, Chair - Diabetes & Endocrine Research Group.

Research Interests:

My overall research is centered on the paracrine/autocrine, and/or endocrine factors regulating fat cell proliferation and differentiation in health and obesity. The local milieu within each fat depot modulates the influence of circulating hormones, growth factors and cytokines and may play an important role not only in regional fat distribution but also overall body fat content.

Research programs include the characterization of novel adipose-cell derived paracrine/ autocrine factors and genes that influence preadipose cell growth; the positive and negative regulators of adipose tissue growth. Work based on cultured adipocytes and preadipocytes from lean and obese rodents and humans are pursued along the following themes:

1. Characterization of adipose tissue-derived paracrine/autocrine factors that stimulate preadipocyte differentiation and replication including; a) partial identification and characterization of a mature adipocyte-derived paracrine factor that induces preadipocyte differentiation; b) soluble matrices from microvascular endothelial cells induce preadipocyte differentiation; c) adipocyte-derived mitogenic factors that stimulates preadipocyte proliferation;

2. Interplay between dietary and genetic factors on nutrient partitioning & adipose tissue growth.

3. Role of cytokines, nitric oxide and eicosanoids in the positive and negative control of regional and total adipose tissue in insulin resistance and obese states.

Clinical research programs are directed at new drug therapy for diabetes, diabetes-related complications, lipids and obesity.

Personnel:

Mohammed Abdel-Hafez, M.Sc.	Graduate Student
Bikramjit Dhillon	Graduate Student
Maureen Kennedy	Graduate Student
Dr. Honyun Yan	PDF
Yanfei (Vivian) Wang	Research Assistant:
Valerie Crosbie	Administrative Assistant

 

View Pub Med for Recent publications & abstract

Recent Publications:

• Lau DCW:  Newer approaches to obesity therapy. In Therapeutic Choices, J Gray, ed., 4th edition, Can. Pharmacists Assoc.
• Yan H, Kermouni A, Abdel-Hafez M, Lau DCW:  Role of cyclooxygenases, COX-1 and COX-2, in modulating adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.  J Lipid Res 43:2123-2129, 2002.
• Yan H, Aziz E, Shillabeer G, Wong A, Shanghavi D, Abdel-Hafez M, Kermouni A, Lau DCW:  Nitric oxide promotes differentiation of rat white adipocytes in culture.  J Lipid Res 44, 2003 (in press).
• Josse RG, Chiasson J-L, Ryan EA, Lau DCW, Ross SA, Yale J-F, Leiter LA, Maheux P, Tessier D, Wolever TMS, Gerstein H, Rodger NW, Dornan JM, Murphy LJ, Rabasa-Lhoret R, Meneilly GS:  Acarbose in the treatment of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.  Diab Res Clin Pract (in press, 2002).
• Chiasson J-L, Josse RG, Gomis R, Hanefeld M, Karasik A, Laasoko M, for the STOP-NIDDM Trial Research Group.  Acarbose for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the STOP-NIDDM randomized trial.  Lancet 359:2072-2077, 2002.
• Mooibroek MJ, Lau DCW: A growing epidemic.  How you can help prevent childhood obesity.  Health J 7:34-36, 2002.
• Lau DCW, Yan H-Y, Abdel-Hafez M:  The fat cell and insulin resistance.  Hormones Metab Res  34:2002.
• Lau DCW, Yan H, Abdel-Hafez M, Kermouni A: Adipokines and the paracrine control of their production in obesity and diabetes.  Recent Prog Obesity Res (accepted for publication).
• Lau DCW: Evidence-based approach to diabetes management in the elderly.  Geriatrics and Aging 6, 2003 (in press).
• Langer A, Constance C, Frolich J, Fodor G, Grégoire J, Lau DCW, et al.: Management of lipids in the post-MIRACL era: Recommendations for clinicians.  Can J Cardiology (accepted for publication, pending revision).
• Auer RN, Lau DCW, Reimer RA: Obesity in Canadian children.  Can Med Assoc J 164:1563-1565, 2001.
• Chiasson, J-F, Naditch L, for the Miglitol Canadian University Investigator Group:  The synergistic effect of miglitol combination therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.  Diabetes Care 24:989-994, 2001.
• Lau DCW, Yan H-Y, Abdel-Hafez M:  The fat cell and insulin resistance.  Hormones Metab Res  33:2001.
• Lau, DCW: Contemporary obesity management.  Can Med Assoc J. (2001 submitted).

Contact Information:

The University of Calgary,
Room 2556 Health Sciences Centre,
3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 4N1
Phone (403) 220-2261
Fax: (403) 210-8113,
E-mail: dcwlau [at] ucalgary [dot] ca