Maria Muccioli is currently the Research Lead at Thrivable, a start-up that connects diabetes MedTech companies with the patients they serve to conduct research and develop better products and services. Maria was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an undergraduate biochemistry student, which inspired her to pursue graduate work in the immunology field. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University and was also a postdoctoral researcher at the Ohio State University and a fellow at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Maria is passionate about harnessing her formal research and teaching experiences to deliver up-to-date and evidence-based information to the diabetes community. She firmly believes in empowering all people with diabetes to learn as much as they can about how to manage their condition and enjoys connecting with the community through her writing and on social media. She is most passionate about new advances in research and technology, optimizing diet to improve glycemic management, and helping women with diabetes gain the most relevant knowledge to achieve healthy pregnancy outcomes. Maria currently resides in sunny Florida with her husband, two kids, and a bundle of cats, dogs and chickens.