Joslin Diabetes Center
Joslin Diabetes Center is one of eighteen Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet International Clinical Centers at the forefront of type 1 diabetes research. Led by Jason Gaglia, MD, MMSc, the TrialNet team at Joslin Diabetes Center is dedicated to preventing type 1 diabetes and stopping disease progression by preserving insulin production before and after diagnosis.
Our Team
Jason Gaglia, MD, MMSc
Principal InvestigatorDr. Gaglia’s research has been focused on immunology and type 1 diabetes. His accomplishments include cloning the immune regulatory molecule TIM-3, being a member of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Islet Transplant Program, and leading a clinical trial demonstrating the feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging to measure inflammation in the pancreas with the development of type 1 diabetes.
Maria Koen, NP-C, CDE
Research NP/Sub-InvestigatorMaria Koen is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Diabetes Educator who has specialized in the care of patients with diabetes since 2001. Her clinical and research interest areas include management of Type 1 diabetes, advanced technologies including pump therapy and CGM systems and modalities aimed at prevention of diabetes. In her role as a clinical research nurse practitioner, she conducts research focused on improvement in glycemic control and/or preservation of beta cell function in individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
Christina Astley, MD, ScD
Sub-InvestigatorChristina is a physician-scientist at Boston Children's Hospital with research interests in the drivers of type 1 diabetes remission and dysglycemia (supported by a K23 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), as well as causal inference methods for understanding the origins of complex diseases. Her background is in pediatric endocrinology (MD from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard Medical School, Residency and Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital) as well as mathematical modeling and epidemiology (ScD from the Harvard School of Public Health). She is currently an Instructor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an Attending in Endocrinology at Boston Children's Hospital, and Affiliate Faculty of the Joslin Diabetes Center.
Brittany Resnick, FNP-BC, MSN
Sub-Investigator/Clinical Trials Manager/Research NPBrittany is the Clinical Trials Manager for the Gaglia research group at the Joslin Diabetes Center. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner and received both her Bachelor’s in Nursing and Master’s in Nursing from Simmons University. Brittany joined the TrialNet team in 2013 and has been the Clinical Trials Manager for the Gaglia research team since 2022. She previously worked as a research nurse in the United Kingdom, aiding in improving the identification and management of patients with monogenic diabetes at the University of Exeter. In her role as Clinical Trials Manager, she manages a portfolio of preventive and new-onset type 1 diabetes clinical research trials.
Michelle Zhang, BA
Research CoordinatorMichelle is the Research Coordinator on Dr. Gaglia’s immunobiology research team at the Joslin Diabetes Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences from Smith College in 2023. Michelle joined the TrialNet team in July 2023, and she is excited to work on clinical trials studying the prevention and intervention of type 1 diabetes in children and adults.
Laurie Higgens, MS, RN, LDN, CDCES
Diabetes EducatorLaurie is the Coordinator of Pediatric Nutrition Education & Research working in the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, MA. Ms. Higgins is on the planning committee for educational opportunities offered at Joslin Diabetes Center and her clinical and research interest include management of Type 1 diabetes, advanced technologies including pump therapy and CGM systems.
Sam Kateman
Clinical Research CoordinatorSam is a Clinical Research Coordinator on Dr. Gaglia’s research team at the Joslin Diabetes Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and minor in Mathematics at Gettysburg College in 2023. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Sam conducted psychological research related to mindfulness and eating habits. Sam joined the TrialNet team in August 2024. She is excited to help conduct prevention and intervention clinical trials for individuals at risk for or with Type 1 Diabetes.
