How amyloid affects insulin- and glucagon-making cells in type 2 diabetes
In vivo mechanisms of amyloid-induced pancreatic islet dysfunction in type 2 diabetes
This research looks at whether small amyloid clumps (IAPP) damage the insulin- and glucagon-producing cells in people with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11130968 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study human pancreatic islet tissue and lab-grown islet cells and also use mouse models to see how IAPP oligomers interact with the RAGE receptor. They will measure how those interactions change insulin and glucagon release and look for inflammatory and stress signals inside beta and alpha cells. Some experiments use human islet samples or clinical tissue collection, while other work uses cultured cells and transgenic mice to test whether blocking RAGE reduces damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with type 2 diabetes who can provide clinical samples or be part of related tissue-collection efforts and who are interested in research on preserving islet cell function.
Not a fit: People without type 2 diabetes or those with long-standing, irreversible loss of islet function are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to protect insulin- and glucagon-producing cells and lead to new treatments that help preserve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and mouse studies have shown that IAPP oligomers can bind RAGE and harm beta cells, but examining these pathways in human islets and in alpha cells is newer.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Jordan James — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Wright, Jordan James
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.