How alpha cells may drive early Type 1 diabetes
Role of Alpha Cells in Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes
This project looks at whether changes in alpha cells that control glucagon help cause early type 1 diabetes in people who carry islet autoantibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285212 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm someone at risk for T1D, researchers will examine pancreatic islets from donors who are GADA+ (single islet autoantibody) and from people with T1D to look for alpha-cell problems. They will measure how well glucose suppresses glucagon release and study cell signaling like cAMP and gene activity for candidates such as PKIB, glucokinase, and mitochondrial complex I subunits. The team will use transcriptomics and functional lab assays on human islets and complementary models to test whether these alpha-cell changes drive progression toward diabetes. The focus is on the early window before insulin problems appear so findings could point to ways to slow or prevent progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are single autoantibody positive (GADA+), those with recent-onset T1D, or individuals willing to donate pancreatic tissue or blood samples would be most relevant for this research.
Not a fit: People without islet autoantibodies or with long-established T1D and minimal remaining islet tissue are less likely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new targets to slow or prevent progression to clinical type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous analyses of human donor islets have shown alpha-cell dysfunction in GADA+ and T1D donors, but converting those findings into effective therapies has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doliba, Nicolai — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Doliba, Nicolai
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.