Reduced insulin signaling in the pancreas's digestive tissue in type 1 diabetes
Loss of insulin signaling across functional pancreas compartments as a major pathogenic mechanism underlying diabetic exocrine pancreatopathy
Researchers want to learn if low insulin near the pancreas causes damage to the digestive part of the pancreas in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249532 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have type 1 diabetes, this project looks at how losing insulin-producing beta cells changes the nearby digestive pancreas. The team will study human pancreas tissue and run lab experiments to see how insulin acts on acinar cells, the small blood-vessel units (pericytes and endothelial cells), and local pancreatic nerves. They will compare samples from adults with type 1 diabetes to healthy tissue and use molecular tests and imaging to track fibrosis, fat changes, inflammation, and vessel abnormalities. The researchers aim to map how loss of local insulin leads to the specific pancreatic damage called diabetic exocrine pancreatopathy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 1 diabetes, especially those showing signs of pancreatic exocrine dysfunction or related digestive problems, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People without type 1 diabetes or whose pancreatic disease is due to other causes (for example classic chronic pancreatitis) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or treat digestive pancreas damage and related complications in people with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have documented exocrine pancreas changes in type 1 diabetes and early lab work supports local insulin effects, but tying together acinar cells, microvasculature, and nerves as a single mechanism is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caicedo, Alejandro — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Caicedo, Alejandro
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.