The department of Pathologic Biochemistry and Physiology is responsible for (post)graduate teaching in this field. It also plays a co-ordinating role in the organisation of courses and training in medical research. Within its own laboratories, the department offers training to Master and Ph.D. students in research projects in the field of diabetes. The research activities are undertaken within the broader framework of the Diabetes Research Centre.The team is composed of the university staff of the department and personnel allocated by research programmes. It has developed technical expertise in flow cytometry, cell purification, cell function and toxicity tests, protein analysis and assays, in vitro and in vivo disease models, autoantibody detection. Current projects are focused on the following subjects: 1. The analysis of pathogenic processes leading to diabetes, in particular at the level of insulin-producing ß-cells; 2. The identification and biologic significance of disease markers, and their use in clinical biology; 3. The induction of human ß-cells neogenesis; 4. The testing of pharmacologic interventions at the level of the ß-cells; 5. The development of ß-cell transplantation for treatment of diabetes.