Autoimmune diabetes: how beta cells cope with stress and keep them healthy
Official title: Autophagy/antioxidant response coupling in pancreatic beta-cell homeostasis regulation
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11530729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how pancreatic beta cells handle stress and how this affects the risk and progression of type 1 diabetes, with a focus on autophagy and antioxidant responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $356,999 |
| NIH project number | 2R56DK124380-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11530729 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with autoimmune diabetes or those at high risk (autoantibody-positive) where beta-cell stress and autophagy pathways may be altered.
✕Less likely to help
People without autoimmune diabetes or those not experiencing beta-cell stress related to autophagy may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why some beta cells in people at risk or with type 1 diabetes don’t clear away damaged components well, and how this may make them more likely to fail. Researchers will explore how reactive oxygen species and autophagy interact in beta cells and whether fixing these pathways can prevent or reduce immune attack on the pancreas. The work uses human-relevant models and will examine the role of IFN-α and lysosomal health in beta-cell survival under inflammatory conditions. If successful, it could point to strategies to protect beta cells from autoimmune destruction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches to preserve insulin-producing cells in people at risk for or living with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings suggest a link between ROS, autophagy, and beta-cell loss, but this study aims to define causality and rescue strategies in human-relevant models.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Linnemann, Amelia K — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Linnemann, Amelia K
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.