Dale L Greiner

Dale L. Greiner is a Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, holding the Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation. He serves in multiple departments across the institution, including the Program in Molecular Medicine, RNA Therapeutics Institute, and several graduate programs at the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Greiner received his BS in Science and PhD in Microbiology from the University of Iowa. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Connecticut Health Center before joining UConn as Assistant Professor in 1983, becoming Associate Professor in 1989, and moving to the University of Massachusetts as Professor in 1991. He became Professor of Molecular Medicine in 2010 and Co-Director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence that same year.

Dr. Greiner's research primarily focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) and developing humanized mouse models to study human diseases. His laboratory has pioneered unique strains of mice that can be engrafted with functional human cells and tissues, including human islets and immune systems. These models are used to study how human beta cells die during T1D development, how the human immune system targets beta cells, and how humanized mice can be applied to regenerative medicine, immunity, infectious diseases, and cancer research. His work bridges basic science with potential clinical applications, particularly in diabetes treatment and prevention.

Analysis of Greiner's recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a strong focus on humanized mouse models as research platforms across multiple disease areas. His work spans diabetes research (particularly type 1 diabetes mechanisms), immunology, infectious disease modeling, cancer immunotherapy, and biomaterial testing. A significant portion of his research involves collaborations with Dr. Leonard Shultz at The Jackson Laboratory to refine humanized mouse systems. The publications demonstrate consistent output across high-impact journals, with particular emphasis on translational applications of basic research findings.

• A.J. Julian Scholarship for Academic Excellence
• Basil O'Connor Scholar Research Award from the March of Dimes
• Kayla and Gerald Grodsky Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• David Rumbough Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Throughout his career, Greiner has served in numerous leadership roles including as a member of the editorial board of Diabetes, regular member of NIH study sections, Chair of the Veterans Administration Immunology Review Subcommittee, and leadership positions within the American Diabetes Association. His extensive service on study sections and editorial boards demonstrates his significant influence in diabetes and immunology research. Greiner has co-authored over 300 publications, reflecting his productivity and collaborative approach to scientific inquiry across multiple disciplines.

Greiner's laboratory is centered around the development and application of humanized mouse models, working closely with Dr. Leonard Shultz at The Jackson Laboratory. These models have become essential tools for studying human-specific disease processes that cannot be adequately modeled in standard laboratory animals. His team has developed specialized mouse strains that support human immune system engraftment, allowing for unprecedented study of human immune responses, beta cell biology, and disease mechanisms in vivo. This work has positioned his laboratory at the forefront of translational diabetes research and humanized mouse model development.