How insulin-producing beta cells adapt to dieting and cellular stress
Beta cell adaptation mechanisms during caloric restriction and ER stress
This research looks at how insulin-producing beta cells change with calorie restriction, high-fat diets, aging, and cellular stress to help people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249131 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine insulin-producing beta cells from human samples and laboratory models to map changes in gene activity, epigenetics, and cell function after calorie restriction, high-fat feeding, aging, or induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. They will use single-cell and 3-D methods to see how individual beta cells differ within the pancreas and how those differences relate to insulin production and cell survival. The team will compare young and aged samples and test whether reducing ER stress can restore normal beta cell identity and function. Findings aim to link diet and aging to the molecular signals that keep beta cells healthy and long-lived.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, especially older adults, would be the most relevant group for donating samples or taking part in related future clinical efforts.
Not a fit: People without metabolic disease or risk factors for type 2 diabetes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to preserve or restore insulin-producing beta cell function for people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown that relieving ER stress can restore beta cell function, but combining single-cell epigenetics with diet and aging is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arrojo E Drigo, Rafael — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Arrojo E Drigo, Rafael
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.