Talk:Douglas A. Melton

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Doug Melton is married to Gail O'Keefe http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=72A80846-2A5E-7B6E-1DDD3D8B6D1EEA1B

JDRF Children's Congress 2003

A Family Fighting for a Cure

2003 Children's Congress delegate Emma Melton (15), works for a cure with brother Sam (11), a delegate in 1999; mom Gail O'Keefe; and dad, JDRF-funded researcher Doug Melton, Ph.D. New York, NY, February 19, 2003—When Emma Melton was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in November of 2001 at the age of 14, she knew all too well what it meant for her life. And so did her parents, Doug Melton, Ph.D., and Gail O'Keefe. "My brother Sam was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was only six months old," Emma says. "The doctors told my parents that he wasn't going to make it, but luckily he did. Sam is eleven now."

Melton and O'Keefe were very surprised when they first received the news that their son had juvenile diabetes. There was no history of the disease in either of their families. They learned as much as they could as quickly as possible, which helped them cope somewhat. "After Sam got diabetes, probably the most helpful organization in our life was JDRF. We were impressed with both their kindness and efficiency," says Gail.

At the same time, Doug was in the fortunate position of being able to make a very significant difference in his son's future—as well as the futures of millions of others who suffer from diabetes. A researcher studying the embryology of animals at Harvard University, Doug switched his career focus to diabetes research when Sam was diagnosed. Today he is Chairman of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University and an investigator at the JDRF Center for Islet Transplantation at Harvard Medical School.

"When Sam was diagnosed with diabetes, I acted the way any parent does. I wanted to do anything I could to make it better," Dr. Melton says. "I was just lucky I could do it."

Doug's research falls under JDRF's Goal Area 1: Restoration of normal blood sugar levels. His laboratory studies focus on observing and developing genes and stem cells that give rise to the pancreas and insulin-producing beta cells (islets). In other words, he hopes to develop an alternative source of islets that could be used in therapy for all people with diabetes—a true cure.

Ironically, Doug now has a double incentive for dedicating his life to diabetes research since Emma was also recently diagnosed. Now 15, Emma was crushed when she was told a year ago that she, too, had the disease. "My first reaction was that I would rather die than have to support myself on insulin injections for the rest of my life," she says. "I was starting in a new school for my freshman year, which was hard enough without a serious disease to deal with."

Nevertheless, like her brother, Emma quickly decided to fight back. In spite of having to prick her fingers for blood ten times a day and take up to six insulin injections daily, Emma does her best to lead a full life and is a three-season athlete and a debater at her school.

She fervently believes that a cure will be found with enough research funding and advocacy, and plans to do all she can to help. These beliefs inspired her to apply to the 2003 JDRF Children's Congress, for which she was recently chosen as a delegate from the state of Massachusetts. Sam was also a Children's Congress delegate, during the first Children's Congress in 1999, and the whole family is excited about Emma's role in Washington this June.

Both Emma and Sam are obviously very interested in their father's research, and visit his lab from time to time to check on his progress. Emma said in her Children's Congress application that she is considering possible careers in both research and government advocacy. "When I graduate from college I would like to follow my father's line of work, if the disease is not already cured by then," she said. "I am also interested in becoming a Member of Congress and petitioning for a cure that way."

Whatever the future may hold, however, mom, dad, Emma, and Sam all plan to keep fighting to make a difference—in their own lives and in the lives of millions of others affected by diabetes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by MaynardClark (talk • contribs) 18:52, 27 February 2008 (UTC)