Understanding beta-cell subtypes in type 2 diabetes
Official title: Understanding putative beta-cell subtypes
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11395467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to understand different beta-cell subtypes in type 2 diabetes to identify how they contribute to blood sugar control and disease progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,351,292 |
| NIH project number | 4R01DK139630-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes or those at risk who could contribute cells or tissues for study, and future patients who might benefit from targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes or without access to the necessary samples or follow-up treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study distinct beta-cell groups, like βLEADER, βHUB, βHI, βLO, and βFOLLOWER, to see how their unique features relate to diabetes. They plan to use human and mouse samples to map cell lines, surface markers, epigenetic states, and functional behavior in real time. The project will connect cellular differences to how the whole pancreas responds to glucose, with the goal of finding targets to preserve or restore normal insulin secretion. This work could inform new approaches to treat or prevent worsening blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to maintain healthy insulin production and better blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified multiple beta-cell subtypes and shown their relevance to diabetes, suggesting this line of research is promising but still expanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pospisilik, John Andrew — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Pospisilik, John Andrew
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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.