Dr. Jay Skyler’s 50 Years of Diabetes Research at the Miller School of Medicine
Summary
- For the past five decades, Dr. Jay Skyler has performed impactful diabetes research at the Diabetes Research Institute.
- Dr. Skyler led the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1 and later the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Clinical Trials Network, looking for a cure for type 1 diabetes.
- Dr. Skyler’s influential research includes investigating the use of patient self-monitoring of blood glucose and algorithms for patient adjustment of insulin doses.
Fifty years in any profession is a milestone. For Jay Skyler, M.D., professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, it is one he is proud to have achieved.
For the past five decades, Dr. Skyler, who also serves as chief academic officer and deputy director for clinical research and academic programs at the Diabetes Research Institute, has remained dedicated to a singular challenge: finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. His commitment has resulted in significant research discoveries, numerous accomplishments and many proud milestones. Discover more about his career path and passion for the field in the following interview, which has been lightly edited for clarity.
What inspired you to pursue a career in diabetes medicine?
I became interested in diabetes while I was a medical student. I was grading pictures of the eyes of people with diabetes while my mentors were performing pituitary gland removal surgeries as a desperation measure to prevent rapidly progressive blindness. During rounds, I met some of the patients and discovered many were my own age. I was a 20-year-old medical student at the time.
Witnessing these procedures made me realize that something had to be done to stop diabetes, so such drastic measures wouldn’t be necessary. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in the field and I’ve been dedicated to it ever since.
What led you to come to the University of Miami?
It was an interesting opportunity that was offered to me while I was on the faculty at Duke. Frank Schuler, who worked for the Upjohn Company and was familiar with many institutions in the South, encouraged me to consider positions at several places. I visited Alabama, South Carolina and Miami. Miami attracted me with the chance to help lead an important initiative, so I accepted the offer and have been happy here ever since. I love it.
How does it feel to have 50 years at the Miller School?
Over these 50 years, the school has given me great opportunities to pursue research and see patients, allowing me to stay connected to the real world and maintain the flexibility to pursue my interests. I believe we currently have the best leadership I’ve seen in all my years here.
One of my first achievements was securing the first grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct immune intervention studies for type 1 diabetes in human beings. Then I led the NIH clinical trials network focused on intervening to try to arrest type 1 diabetes, first at the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1, and later at the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Clinical Trials Network, aiming to stop and interdict the disease. I led these efforts for 22 years, and the chairman’s office coordinated everything from this very room in the Miller School of Medicine.
I first was recognized for the use of patient self-monitoring of blood glucose and developing and “algorithms” for patient adjustment of insulin doses. This led to the concept of intensive insulin therapy. We used this approach to allow pregnant women with diabetes to have pregnancies which went to term, rather than being delivered several weeks early.
We also reported the first use of a monoclonal antibody to try to alter the course of type 1 diabetes. Here at UM, I was honored to receive the first annual Dean’s Senior Clinical Research Award in 1999, the Provost’s Award for Scholarly Activity in 2003 and the Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award in 2015.
My heart is truly in this work. People ask why I haven’t retired after 50 years. I want to eradicate this disease before I do.
Dr. Jay Skyler
What would you be doing if you were not a professor?
If I weren’t a professor, I’d still be doing diabetes research in industry. I’ve worked with many companies to develop major diabetes treatments, served on boards of directors for MiniMed™ insulin pumps, Amylin Pharmaceuticals (the first GLP-1 therapies) and Dexcom (continuous glucose monitoring). Over my career, I’ve consulted for more than 250 companies. Academy-industry partnerships are essential for progress and UM’s policy allowing faculty to work on external projects has helped me contribute to patient care advancements.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
To pursue what your heart tells you to do. My heart is truly in this work. People ask why I haven’t retired after 50 years. I want to eradicate this disease before I do.
How are you continuing your work in type 1 diabetes?
One major accomplishment in the clinical trials network I led for the NIH was a study called “TN-10” (TrialNet 10), which tested a monoclonal antibody to see if we could delay progression from stage 2 to full-blown stage 3 type 1 diabetes. We succeeded and that treatment became the first FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes.
We are now studying additional treatments with the potential to be approved as disease-modifying therapies. I believe the field is moving beyond just insulin replacement toward disease modification, possibly stopping the disease entirely. At the DRI, we are also working on ways to replace damaged beta cells, potentially using stem cells and other methods, with the goal of eradicating diabetes completely.
Tags: diabetes, Diabetes Research Institute, Division of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, Dr. Jay Skyler, type 1 diabetes