How early oxidative stress affects the pancreas and later diabetes risk
Activation of Nrf2 during embryonic development - mechanisms and consequences
This work looks at whether exposure to PFAS and other early oxidative stressors changes how insulin-producing beta cells form in embryos, which may raise the chance of diabetes later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251982 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will use transgenic zebrafish to model how prenatal exposure to PFAS creates oxidative stress during pancreas development. They will follow Nrf2 activation with microscopy, use redox proteomics to map molecular changes, and run insulin misfolding assays to test beta-cell function. The team will identify signs of beta-cell fragility and potential molecular biomarkers that could signal later-life metabolic problems. Researchers plan to translate the most promising bioindicators toward human health comparisons and future clinical studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant or planning pregnancy and those concerned about prenatal PFAS exposure or family diabetes risk would be most relevant for related future studies.
Not a fit: People with established diabetes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this embryonic-development lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early-life mechanisms or biomarkers that help predict or prevent adult-onset diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior animal studies link early oxidative stress to later metabolic disease, but applying Nrf2 activation and PFAS exposure specifically to embryonic beta-cell development is a relatively new and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Timme-Laragy, Alicia R — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Timme-Laragy, Alicia R
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.