
George A Diaz, MD, PhD Email George Diaz

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- Positions
- PROFESSOR | Genetics and Genomic Sciences
- PROFESSOR | Pediatrics
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- Specialties
- Pediatrics
- Genetics and Genomics
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- Languages
- Spanish
- English
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- Hospital Affiliations
- The Mount Sinai Hospital
- Mount Sinai Beth Israel
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- Phone
- Atran Berg Laboratory Building 212-241-6947 212-241-6947
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Atran Berg Laboratory Building
1428 Madison Avenue
1st Floor, Room AB1-12
New York, NY 10029
Phone: 212-241-6947212-241-6947
Certification
Clinical Genetics
Clinical Focus
- Carnitine Disorders
- Fatty Acid Oxidation Defects
- Galactosemia
- Glutaric Acidemia
- Glycogen Storage Diseases
- Homocystinuria
- Hypoglycemia
- Intellectual Disability
- Krabbe Disease
- Leukodystrophy
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease
- Metabolic Encephalopathy
- Methylmalonic Acidemia
- Mitochondrial Myopathy
- Newborn Screening
- Organic Acidemias
- Phenylketonuria
- Pompe Disease
- Propionic Acidemia
- Tyrosinemia
- Urea Cycle Defects
Research Topics
Chemokines, Chemotaxis, Genetics, Genomics, Human Genetics and Genetic Disorders, Immunology, Microtubules, Signal Transduction, Virulence Genes
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Genetics and Data Science [GDS], Immunology [IMM]
Education
MD, S.U.N.Y., Health Science Center
Residency, Pediatrics
Mount Sinai Hospital
Fellowship, Human Genetics
Mount Sinai Hospital
Languages
Spanish, English
Chemokine mutations in WHIM syndrome
WHIM syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency causing hypogammaglobulinemia, neutropenia and predisposition to warts. Affected individuals have been found to carry truncating mutations in the tail domain of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. The pathogenesis of the disease appears to involve both a neutrophil trafficking defect as well as a defect in lymphocyte function. While the nature of the susceptibility to HPV is poorly understood, additional study should provide insight into the role of the receptor in the host response to infection by HPV, a cause of significant human morbidity. Studies currently underway include the characterization of a mouse model expressing mutant CXCR4 in selected hematopoietic tissues, genetic studies with functional candidate genes in families with the WHIM syndrome phenotype without mutations in CXCR4, and biochemical characterization of the signaling perturbations in disease cells carrying CXCR4 truncations.
Tubulin folding defects in human disease
Mutation of a tubulin-specific chaperone protein, TBCE, has been found to cause autosomal recessive Kenny-Caffey syndrome (KCS), a dwarfing syndrome associated with congenital hypoparathyroidism and mental retardation. A spontaneous mutant of the orthologous mouse gene, Tbce, was identified by other investigators in a murine model of peripheral motor neurodegeneration (pmn), implicating the chaperone in maintenance of the microtubule cytoskeleton in motor axons. Biochemical studies have confirmed that the disease pathophysiology is not caused by loss of tubulin folding function, suggesting a novel role for the protein. Interaction with a microtubule growth regulator, EB1 has been demonstrated, consistent with a role for TBCE in the organization of microtubules. Current work is focused on validating this proposed function and exploring the role of TBCE in maintaining microtubule stability. Defects in microtubule stability in neuronal cells appears to be a potential common pathogenic pathway disturbed in several neurodegenerative disorders, suggesting TBCE and its interactors as potential modifiers.
Disease Gene Discovery and Translational Genomics
The Diaz laboratory studies the molecular basis of inherited human diseases, particularly single-gene disorders. Methodologies applied within the laboratory include linkage analysis, positional cloning, development of animal models and elucidation of disease pathophysiology through biochemical and cell biological studies. By understanding the underlying pathobiology of these disorders, fundamental insights can be gained into more broadly relevant biological or clinical questions.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Diaz during 2020 and/or 2021. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting:
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
- Gerson Lehrman Group
- Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc. (RRD)
- Sanofi Genzyme
- Sema4
- Synlogic Therapeutics
Scientific Advisory Board:
- Aeglea Biotherapeutics
- Cycle Pharmaceuticals
- Horizon Therapeutics
- Synlogic Therapeutics
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
Physicians who provide services at hospitals and facilities in the Mount Sinai Health System might not participate in the same health plans as those Mount Sinai hospitals and facilities (even if the physicians are employed or contracted by those hospitals or facilities).
Information regarding insurance participation and billing by this physician may be found on this page, and can also be obtained by contacting this provider directly. Because physicians insurance participation can change, the insurance information on this page may not always be up-to-date. Please contact this physician directly to obtain the most up-to-date insurance information.
Insurance and health plan networks that the various Mount Sinai Health System hospitals and facilities participate in can be found on the Mount Sinai Health System website.