Pancreatic beta-cell glucose problems and how they control protein production
Official title: Pancreatic beta-cell glucose toxicity and mRNA translation
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11528284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how sugar levels affect insulin-producing cells and why these changes might trigger autoimmune problems in brittle diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,975 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DK140526-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with brittle diabetes or autoimmune beta-cell dysfunction could ultimately benefit from advances in this research.
✕Less likely to help
If your condition does not involve beta-cell translation or autoimmune beta-cell damage, direct benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how chronic high glucose changes which proteins beta-cells make, using human-like cell models and tests of real tissues. They will map how sugar-driven changes in mRNA translation relate to insulin secretion problems and potential autoimmunity. The study uses ribosome profiling and nascent proteomics to understand which proteins are affected and how this links to beta-cell health. The findings could point to new ways to protect insulin producers in people with brittle diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how high sugar harms insulin-producing cells could lead to new strategies to preserve insulin secretion in brittle diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows chronic high glucose alters insulin translation and related pathways in beta-cells, with translational changes detectable in human islets.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheruiyot Harvey, Abigael — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Cheruiyot Harvey, Abigael
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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.