Trefoil proteins and insulin-making pancreatic cells
Role of trefoil factor family proteins in beta cell function.
This project looks at whether trefoil factor proteins help insulin-producing beta cells stay healthy in people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231234 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is focusing on trefoil factor proteins (TFF1, TFF2, TFF3) that are secreted in the pancreas and may influence nearby insulin-producing beta cells. They will use laboratory experiments and mouse models lacking Tff2 to see how loss of these proteins affects beta-cell function and insulin production. The researchers will compare molecular and cellular findings with human pancreatic tissue or cells to link the lab work to people with type 2 diabetes. The goal is to identify pathways that could be targeted to protect or restore beta-cell health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes or adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes, especially those willing to provide clinical information or tissue samples, would be most relevant for this work.
Not a fit: People whose diabetes is primarily autoimmune type 1 or whose condition is unrelated to beta-cell dysfunction may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect or restore beta-cell function and lead to therapies that prevent or slow type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Trefoil factors are known to aid repair in gut and lung tissue and preliminary mouse data show Tff2 loss impairs beta cells, but translating this mechanism to human type 2 diabetes is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ku, Hsun Teresa — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Ku, Hsun Teresa
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.