His current research interests include pancreatic developmental biology and the directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, particularly in pertinence to type 1 diabetes. In 2014, he reported a method using human pluripotent stem cells to generate virtually unlimited quantities of functional insulin-producing beta cells that respond appropriately to a glucose challenge.[15] This is considered a significant step forward in regenerative medicine for the possible treatment of diabetes, including type I diabetes, which afflicts both his children.