How amyloid affects pancreatic cells in type 2 diabetes
Official title: In vivo mechanisms of amyloid-induced pancreatic islet dysfunction in type 2 diabetes
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11398696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how tiny protein clumps in the pancreas may harm the cells that control blood sugar 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 start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX005910-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes who could contribute human islet samples or potentially participate in future translational studies related to islet function.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes or not contributing human islet tissue would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If successful, the work will explore how amyloid buildup and a cell surface receptor called RAGE affect the function of human pancreatic islet cells, including insulin- and glucagon-producing cells, in lab dishes and animal models. The study uses human islet tissues and models to see how IAPP oligomers activate RAGE and what that does to cell health and hormone release. The aim is to uncover new details about why insulin secretion falters in type 2 diabetes and how this may differ in human cells versus other models. Findings could point toward targets to protect islet cells and improve blood sugar control in people with the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding IAPP-RAGE signaling could lead to new strategies to preserve pancreatic cell function and improve glucose control in type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed IAPP and RAGE interactions in cell and mouse models; this project tests whether the same mechanisms occur in human islets.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Jordan James — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Wright, Jordan James
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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.