Laurie Quinn

Laurie Quinn

Laurie Quinn’s work over the past two decades has been focused on improving the health of people with diabetes and reducing the burden of diabetes complications — a disease that affects about 1 in 10 Americans.

She is working with engineers from the Illinois Institute of Technology on an algorithm for an artificial pancreas system, a device that would respond to a diabetic person’s need for insulin without having to be fed information about meals and exercise.

Quinn’s particular expertise on metabolism and the effects of exercise on blood sugar levels led the group to be the among the first to incorporate information about physical activity, stress, meals and sleep into the algorithm.

She also is director for the Center for Sleep and Health Research in the UIC College of Nursing, dedicated to transforming our understanding to improve, preserve and promote health through good sleep.

Subject areas:

• Diabetes.
• Exercise research.
• Sleep.
• Quality-of-life issues.