Islet Biology
Investigating the overlapping steps in the progression from stem cells to organized islets.
Investigators compare and contrast pancreas development in organisms as varied as flies, zebrafish, mice, and humans. There is a strong emphasis on studies of islet regeneration oriented towards producing islets for transplantation into patients with type 1 diabetes. Islet biology researchers also study islet function ranging from the generation of islet auto-antigens predisposing islets to destruction in Type 1 diabetes.
Autoimmunity
Researching the origins and therapeutic modulation of autoimmune destruction of the islet in Type 1 Diabetes.
Research within the program has led to novel insights into the surveillance of islet antigens leading to Type 1 Diabetes, the central role of the breakdown in T-cell tolerance in that immune attack on the islet.
Translation
Translating preclinical findings to improvements in diabetes treatment.
Researchers within the Translation Program study the processes directly leading to diabetes in its most pertinent model organism, humans. These studies incorporate the ability to use a new generation of genomic and metabolic tools to investigate the underlying causes of disease and as well as the modes of action of drug therapies within the patient population. Human studies of the genetic and environmental factors affecting diabetes development and treatment represent another focus of the Translation Program. Thus, the Translation Program translates basic research to human treatment and studies humans to discover the most pertinent basic research areas.