Protecting and growing the insulin-producing beta cells using Nrf2
Nrf2 and the expansion and preservation of beta cell mass
This work tests whether activating a protective protein called Nrf2 can help people with diabetes keep and increase their insulin-producing beta cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers at Mount Sinai will study how turning on Nrf2 helps beta cells survive and multiply after stress. They will use lab models including isolated human and animal beta cells and likely animal studies to see how Nrf2 interacts with signaling systems that raise cAMP, like GLP-1 receptor drugs and prostaglandin E2 receptor modulators. The team will examine gene-regulation and chromatin changes using techniques such as ATAC-seq and other molecular assays to map how Nrf2 preserves beta-cell identity and insulin content. The goal is to identify pathways or drugs that could be developed to protect or expand beta-cell mass in diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are losing insulin production or are early in their disease course would be the most likely candidates for future therapies from this work.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with very long-standing, complete loss of beta-cell function (no endogenous insulin production) are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that preserve or expand insulin-producing cells and improve blood sugar control in diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies have shown that GLP-1 receptor drugs and Nrf2 activation can protect beta cells, but translating these mechanisms into proven human therapies remains limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Donald K. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Scott, Donald K.
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.