Director
Dr. Alan Shuldiner is the John L. Whitehurst Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Personalized Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and directs the UMSOM Program for Personalized Medicine. Dr. Shuldiner’s major research interests lie in the molecular biology and genetics age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease— common disorders that contribute significantly to mortality, morbidity, and functional loss in the elderly. He also works on the pharmaco- and nutri-genomics of these disorders, with a goal of making genomic discoveries that lead to more effective individualized treatment and prevention of these diseases (personalized medicine).
Dr. Shuldiner is best known for his studies in the Old Order Amish, a homogeneous founder population ideal for genetic studies. He leads a large multidisciplinary research team that uses state-of-the-art molecular genetic statistical and epidemiological methods, including both candidate gene and genome wide approaches. Dr. Shuldiner’s group recently reported a mutation in the APOC3 gene that acts as a novel target for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Most recently, through a genome-wide approach, they found a common gene variant in CYP2C19 that is associated with poorer response to clopidogrel that many cardiologists now use to individualize anti-platelet therapy. This research is supported by the NIH Pharmacogenomics Research Network and other NIH and foundation grants.
Dr. Shuldiner has authored more than 300 original articles in leading journals and 78 reviews and book chapters. He is the recipient of a number of awards, including the prestigious Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar award, the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar award, and the 2006 University of Maryland Founders Day Researcher of the Year award. Dr. Shuldiner serves on several steering and advisory committees (including NIDDK’s Council), and study sections related to his expertise in complex disease genetics and translation of genetic discoveries to the clinical setting.
