Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology  http://www.gbs.uab.edu  http://www.uab.edu/graduate  Back to Main

Faculty Detail    
Name W. TIMOTHY GARVEY
  
Campus Address WEBB 616A Zip 3360
Phone  (205) 996-7433
E-mail  garveyt@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Nutrition Sciences Chair Office  Nutrition Sciences Chair Office Professor
Secondary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Professor
Secondary  Med - Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism  Med - Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Professor
Center  Center for Women's Reproductive Health  Center for Women's Reproductive Health Professor
Center  Comp Arthritis, MSK, Bone & Autoimmunity Ctr  Comp Arthritis, MSK, Bone & Autoimmunity Ctr Professor
Center  Comprehensive Diabetes Center  Comprehensive Diabetes Center Professor
Center  Med - Cardiovascular Disease  Ctr Cardiovasc Bio (Org Ret) Professor
Center  Ctr for Clinical & Translational Sci  Ctr for Clinical & Translational Sci Professor
Center  Ctr for Exercise Medicine (Org Ret)  Ctr for Exercise Medicine (Org Ret) Professor
Center  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders  GL Ctr for Craniofacial, Oral, & Dental Disorders Professor
Center  Integrative Center for Aging Research  Integrative Center for Aging Research Professor
Center  Minority Health & Research Center  Minority Health & Research Center Professor
Center  Nephrology Research & Training Center  Nephrology Research & Training Center Professor
Center  Nutrition Sciences Research  Nutrition Obesity Res Ctr (NORC) Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology 
Hughes Med-Grad Fellowship Program 
Medical Scientist Training Program 
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine 

Biographical Sketch 
After his undergraduate studies at Washington University, Dr. Garvey proceeded to earn his MD from St. Louis University’s School of Medicine in 1978. He then completed his internship (1978-1979) and residency (1979-1980) on the staff of Barnes Hospital, Washington University. Dr. Garvey went on to complete a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California at San Diego Medical Center (1983-1984) and University of Colorado Health Science Center (1982-1983). After faculty positons at UCSD, Indiana University, and the Medical University of South Carolina, he came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he is currently Professor and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition Sciences.



Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Molecular and physiological pathogenesis of human insulin resistance
Description
Dr. Garvey has achieved international recognition for his research in the metabolic, molecular, and genetic pathogenesis of insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and obesity. His studies have involved the cellular and molecular biology of cell and animal models, metabolic investigations of human subjects on metabolic research wards, and the genetic basis of diseases in Gullah-speaking African Americans, Pima Indians, and national cohorts of diabetes patients. He has brought basic technology directly to the study of human patients, and the combined approach of human physiology, genetics, and basic cell and molecular biology has provided the laboratory with a flexible capability for hypothesis testing relevant to human disease. By studying molecular parameters and differential gene expression in muscle and fat tissue from metabolically characterized individuals, the Garvey laboratory has made important observations regarding the pathogenesis of human insulin resistance. He has been a principle contributor to our understanding of the role of the glucose transport system and glucose transporter proteins in human insulin resistance. He is using cDNA microarray and mitochondrial proteomics to better define mitochondrial defects that impair substrate oxidation in human muscle from insulin resistant subjects. The laboratory has also identified a polymorphism in the uncoupling protein 3 gene as a ‘thrifty gene’ and susceptibility gene for severe obesity in African Americans. The laboratory is actively studying mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to muscle insulin resistance, and the role of secreted adipocyte factors in the pathogenesis of the Metabolic Syndrome. He also served as the PI of an NIH-funded Program Project to study markers and mechanisms of diabetes vascular complications in collaboration with two national trial cohorts. Dr. Garvey has directed an independent laboratory since 1987 supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK, NHLBI), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the AHA, JDFI, the ADA, and other agencies. He is also the Director of the NIH P60 Diabetes Research and Training Center at UAB.

Keywords
Insulin resistance, obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes