He investigates the signaling pathways controlling how and when cells store or burn energy. Understanding these processes may shed light on dysfunctional glucose and lipid metabolism, particularly as it relates to obesity and Type 2 diabetes. He hopes to elucidate the precise function of these pathways and their roles in the pathogenesis of diabetes, with the goal of developing new therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Saltiel has spent his research career in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. His work has been largely devoted to the role of cellular signaling in understanding the actions of insulin and growth factors; beyond a deeper knowledge of diabetes, this work has also led to insights about cancer, heart disease and nervous system disorders. He has an international reputation as an expert on the hormone insulin and its role in diabetes and cellular signaling.

Insulin controls cell growth, differentiation of cell types, gene expression, enzyme activity, and the movement of proteins within a cell. His laboratory has pioneered investigations into how signals are segregated into special regions in cells. They discovered a novel group of proteins called "molecular scaffolds" that direct enzymes and other proteins to specific compartments in the cell. These processes ensure that the right cell responds appropriately to insulin and other hormones. He discovered several drugs for cancer and diabetes, holds 19 patents and has extensive experience with the FDA's testing and approval process for new drugs. He has published over 300 original papers with over 67,000 citations and H-Index of 112. Professor Saltiel received his AB in Zoology from Duke University and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina.