How calcium signals help insulin-producing beta cells work and survive
Control of beta cell function and survival by RYR2-mediated calcium signals
This project explores whether calcium released inside insulin-producing beta cells by a protein called RYR2 helps those cells release insulin and resist damage in adults with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168883 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone affected by diabetes, researchers are using advanced high-speed imaging and lab experiments to watch tiny, fast calcium signals inside beta cells. They will change RYR2 activity with drugs and measure how those internal calcium releases affect insulin secretion and cell survival. The work uses cells and model systems and may include human tissue samples to link the basic signals to what happens in people with adult-onset diabetes. Results could point to ways to protect beta cells or improve how they release insulin at normal blood sugar levels.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults with recent- or established adult-onset (type 2) diabetes who are willing to provide clinical data or tissue samples for laboratory studies or to be contacted for related translational studies.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with very advanced, long-standing insulin deficiency and severe complications are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that protect or restore insulin-producing beta cells and improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies in cells and animal models have shown that internal calcium release and ryanodine receptors influence insulin secretion, but translating these findings into human therapies is still early and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evans-Molina, Carmella — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Evans-Molina, Carmella
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.