Hidden insulin-deficient beta cells in type 1 diabetes
Survival and potential of insulin-deficient beta cells in type 1 diabetes
This project looks to find whether 'empty' beta cells in people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes survive and could be turned back into insulin-making cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158733 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine donated pancreas tissue from people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes, people who test positive for diabetes-related autoantibodies, and comparison donors with type 2 diabetes or no diabetes. They will use a high-content imaging method (MACSima) to map 78 immune and pancreas cell markers in place and compare islets that still have insulin to those that do not, while noting signs of inflammation or immune cell presence. Selected regions will be cut out with laser capture microdissection and profiled for detailed molecular signals to learn how 'empty' beta cells form and what they contain. The team aims to determine whether these insulin-deficient cells are hidden from the immune system and whether they could be targeted to restore insulin production.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recent-onset type 1 diabetes or those who are positive for diabetes-related autoantibodies are the most relevant donors and potential future candidates for therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: People with long-standing type 1 diabetes who appear to have no surviving beta cells, and people with type 2 diabetes driven by different mechanisms, may be less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If these insulin-deficient cells can be reactivated, the work could lead to treatments that restore natural insulin production in people with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has reported proinsulin-positive or 'empty' beta cells in recent-onset type 1 diabetes, but applying ultra-high-content imaging and detailed molecular profiling is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schatz, Desmond Arthur — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Schatz, Desmond Arthur
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 below.