Marika obtained her M.D. degree at the University of Tirana, Albania, where she was also awarded a Specialist Certificate in General Pathology. Marika obtained a Master degree (M.Sc.) in Medical and Pharmaceutical Research at Brussels Free University- VUB (Belgium). Marika performed her PhD thesis at the VUB -Diabetes Research Center. Her work identified cell preparations and conditions in which new beta cells can be formed. In August 2005 she obtained a post-doc position at Pacific Northwest Research Institute, joining Dr. Robertson's group, where she will develop a morphologic project in the field of diabetes.  

Jamie received her PhD in Zoology from North Dakota State University. She first joined the Robertson laboratory at the University of Minnesota and then transferred to Seattle with Dr. Robertson. She has been a staff scientist at PNDRI since1997. Her primary interest lies in insulin gene expression and the dysfunction of pancreatic ß-cells in Type 2 diabetes. She is studying the effects of glucose toxicity and oxidative stress on insulin, PDX-1, and Maf A gene expression.  

Sabrina is a Seattle University student who focuses on establishing transgenic lines of mice that overexpress islet antioxidant enzymes.  

Elizabeth received her BS in Physiology from U.C. Davis in 1987 and joined the Robertson lab at the University of Minnesota in 1990. She moved with the lab to PNDRI in 1997. She is the lab's lead technician and is involved with the testing of clinical samples relating to both the HITS project and pancreas transplantation. No stranger to the important role PNDRI plays in training young researchers, Elizabeth spends a lot of time helping those new to the research lab environment gain the skills needed to succeed in their research.  

Susan is a research technician in the Robertson lab. She joined the lab in August 2005. She graduated with a bachelor degree in biology a minor in chemistry from the University of Washington in 2001. She analyzes gene expression by real time RT-PCR and helps manage a mouse colony that over expresses an antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase.  

Tao is a post-doctoral fellow who joined the Robertson lab in 2004. His research focuses on islet transplantation and gene regulation of PGE2 synthesis.  

Zhou is a post-doctoral fellow who joined the Robertson lab in 2002. Her research focus is uncovering mechanisms for abnormal islet alpha cell function in type 1 diabetes and in islets transplanted into the hepatic site.