Dr Eva Bru

Role: Junior Lecturer and Principal Investigator

Institute: Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Research & Interests: Dr Eva Bru Tari is a translational researcher specializing in diabetes and the role of pancreatic alpha-cells, also known as glucagon-producing cells, in the disease. She obtained her PhD in 2020 from the University Miguel Hernández, Spain, where she investigated the adaptive responses of alpha-cells in Type 1 Diabetes. Following her doctoral studies, she joined the laboratory of Prof. Pedro Herrera at the University of Geneva, where her research focuses on the function, plasticity and pathological alterations of human alpha-cells, with the long-term vision of developing targeted interventions to restore glycemic control in diabetes.

As a principal investigator, she leads research efforts to uncover the mechanisms underlying alpha-cell dysfunction in diabetes, while simultaneously exploring innovative strategies to reprogram these cells into insulin producers. By integrating human primary cell cultures with cutting-edge omics technologies, her studies provide a comprehensive understanding of alpha-cell behaviour at both molecular and functional levels. Her translational approach has earned her prestigious recognition, including the Fondation pour la Recherche sur le Diabetè Award in 2023 and the EFSD/Lilly Young Investigator Award from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes in 2024.