Michael Brehm Named DCOE Co-Director Continuing Dale Greiner's Legacy
Date Posted: Friday, August 01, 2025
After more than three decades, Dale Greiner, PhD, has stepped down as Co-Director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCOE) at UMass Chan Medical School. His longtime colleague and mentee, Michael Brehm, PhD, was appointed as the new Co-Director, joining David Harlan, MD, in leading the DCOE’s research mission to prevent and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes.
“Since joining UMass in 1991, Dale has built a legacy of leadership and mentorship. I consider it my great privilege and pleasure to have worked with him over the past 15 years,” said Dr. Harlan, the William and Doris Krupp Professor of Medicine. “Working with Dale was among the reasons I chose to leave the NIH for UMass Chan. His experience, knowledge, character, and judgment have always been impeccable. I’m honored to call him a friend, and he has taught me so much. I’m thrilled he’ll continue to contribute to our cause. Though he leaves large shoes to fill, Mike Brehm is well suited to do so!”
Dr. Greiner has played a central role in advancing the understanding of autoimmune mechanisms that underlie type 1 diabetes (T1D). His pioneering work in developing and improving “humanized mouse models”—genetically engineered mice engrafted with human immune systems and pancreatic islets—transformed the field, allowing scientists to study human disease mechanisms in vivo. These models have been widely adopted across the globe for the study of autoimmunity, transplantation, and immunotherapy.
Drs. Greiner and Brehm have collaborated closely on the development and application of humanized mouse models to better understand human T1D pathogenesis and to test targeted therapies in a preclinical setting.
“I am honored to follow in Dale’s footsteps,” said Dr. Brehm, the Harvey A. Shultz Chair in Diabetes. “He has been an incredible mentor and colleague. His work has laid the foundation for much of what we do at the UMass DCOE, and I look forward to continuing that momentum.”
Although stepping down from his administrative role, Dr. Greiner will remain actively involved in ongoing research efforts at the UMass DCOE, where he holds the Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation. He will also continue to be a valuable member of the Breakthrough T1D Barbara Dewey Cammett Center of Excellence in New England.