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UNTIL NOW.

Choose one or more projects you want to support.100% of your donation, directed to a research project, will go to that scientist’s laboratory. Submit a Research Project

Many exciting projects simply couldn’tget off the ground.
UNTIL NOW.

Choose one or more projects you want to support.100% of your donation, directed to a research project, will go to that scientist’s laboratory. Scientist in a lab coat and protective eyewear examines a microscope slide, supporting Diabetes Research Healthcare professional assisting patient with continuous glucose monitor (CGM) application, supporting Diabetes Research Connection's mission

Active Research Projects

Project #87: Leveraging circadian biology to enhance the function and the survival of transplanted human stem cell-derived ß-cells for the treatment …
87 Satish Sen PhD
  • Satish Sen, PhD
  • Mayo Clinic
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Project #86: Elucidation of the Regulatory Mechanisms of Naïve T Cells by Gut Microbial Metabolites for Therapeutic Strategies in T1D
86 Keiichiro Mine PhD
  • Keiichiro Mine, PhD
  • Boston College
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Project #85: BNIP3-Mediated Mitophagy Regulates ß-Cell Identity and Immunogenicity in T1D
85 Geming Lu PhD
  • Geming Lu, MD
  • City of Hope
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Project #84: Microbial architects: How yeast cell wall components activate islet resident macrophages to drive beta-cell expansion
84 Gabriella Giese
  • Gabriella Cynthia Giese
  • University of Colorado, Boulder
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Project #83: CD318 orchestrates immune regulation and supports beta-cell function in T1D
83 Jeong Su Jay Do PhD
  • Jeong-Su “Jay” Do, PhD
  • City of Hope
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Project #82: How intra-islet macrophages regulate CD4+ T cell phenotype to suppress Type 1 diabetes
82 Pavel Zakharov Ph.D
  • Pavel Zakharov, PhD
  • Washington University
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Project #81: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of a Novel IRE1 Inhibitor in Type 1 Diabetes
81 Luka Suzuki
  • Luka Suzuki, PhD, MD
  • University of California, San Francisco
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Project #80: Nano-in-microgel long-acting combination drug delivery platform for localized immunomodulation to prevent allogenic islet graft immune re …
80 Dhanashree Surve Ph.D
  • Dhanashree Surve, PhD
  • University of Miami
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Project #79: Mechanisms of human ß-cell potentiation by non-glucose nutrients
79 Donghan Max Shin
  • Donghan “Max” Shin
  • University of California, Davis
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Project #78: Mechanisms and Delivery of FGF19 in Type 1 Diabetes
78 Armando Puente
  • Armando Puente
  • University of Chicago
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Project #77: Protection Against Type 1 Diabetes Development by mTOR/4E-BP2 Signaling
77 Valentina Pita Grisanti Ph.D
  • Valentia Pita Grisanti, PhD
  • University of Miami
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Project #76: Assessing spatial heterogeneity of the alpha cell dysfunction and testing its connection to the islet-specific T cells in T1D
76 Vira Kravets Ph.D
  • Vira Kravets, PhD
  • University of California, San Diego
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Project #75: Investigating the Role of KLF4 in Maintenance of Alpha Cell Identity
75 Eric Januszkiewicz Ph.D
  • Eric Januszkiewicz, PhD
  • University of Colorado
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Project #74 : The cGAS-STING pathway mediates podocyte injury in type I diabetes Institution: Case Western Reserve University
74 Agustin Gonzalez Vicente Ph.D
  • Agustin Gonzalez-Vicente, PhD
  • Case Western Reserve University
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Project #73: Gestation Drives Adaptive Dynamics in Beta Cell Metabolism, Function, and Heterogeneity
73 Janielle Cuala
  • Janielle Cuala
  • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
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Project #72: Optogenetics to stimulate maturation of functional replacement beta cells from human stem cells
72 Christina Gangemi PhD
  • Christina Gangemi, PhD
  • Stanford University
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Project #71: A synthetic biological glucose sensing and regulating system for blood glucose control
71 Eric Petersen PhD
  • Eric Petersen, PhD
  • Central Michigan University
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Project #69: Role of miR-192 in the derivation of pancreatic islet tissue from pluripotent stem cells
69 Chrystal Guzman
  • Chrystal Guzman
  • University of Washington School of Medicine
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Project #70: Combined inhibition of RANKL/RANK and DYRK1A pathways for T1D therapy
70 Nagesha Guthalu Kondegowda PhD
  • Nagesha Guthalu Kondegowda, Ph.D.
  • Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope
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Project #68: Direct reprogramming pancreatic ductal cells into insulin-producing cells by controlling the epigenome using AI-designed mini-protein Epi …
68 Shiri Levy PhD
  • Shiri Levy, PhD
  • University of Washington School of Medicine 
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Project #66: Investigating the role of risk locus BACH2 rs72928038 in limiting adaptive immune repertoire diversity and promoting effector memory phen …
66 Leeana Peters PhD
  • Leeana Peters, PhD
  • University of Florida
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Project #67: Identifying an autoreactive B-cell signature in at-risk T1D individuals
67 Lindsay Bass
  • Lindsay Bass
  • Vanderbilt University
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Project #64: aE-catenin: Gatekeeper of Endocrine cell proliferation and ß-cell Regeneration
64 Mark Andrade
  • Mark Andrade
  • University of Washington
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Project #63: The role of PD-L1 in beta cell extracellular vesicles in type-1 diabetes
63 Chaitra Rao PhD
  • Chaitra Rao, PhD
  • Indiana University
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Project #62: LGR4-ECD: A potential therapeutic for type 1 diabetes-related beta cell stress
62 Joanna Filipowska PhD
  • Joanna Filipowska, PhD
  • City of Hope
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Project #59: Determine the role of viral infections and viral-insulin carrying viruses in T1D pathogenesis
59 Aurelien Chuard PhD
  • Aurelien Chuard, Ph.D.
  • Boston College
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Project #60: GPER, inflammation and diabetic kidney disease
60 Carmen De Miguel PhD
  • Carmen De Miguel, Ph.D.
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Pending Research Projects

Diabetes Research Connection logo, featuring

Partner Academic Institutions

DRC has distributed approximately
 $4.1M to research

Completed Projects

Generating stem cell-derived beta cells that are protected from human autoimmune diabetes
RCG in lab
  • Roberto Castro-Gutierrez, MD
  • University of Florida Diabetes Institute
Reversing beta cell dysfunction in type 1 diabetes
CatharinaVillaca-approved-pic-cropped
  • Catharina Villaca, MS
  • Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Project #57: Precision genetics for type 1 diabetes prevention
Kirsten Lavelle
  • Kristen Lavelle, MD
  • University of California, San Francisco
Using bacteriophages to introduce insulin constructs into skin microbiota
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  • Ayako Murao, Ph.D
  • J. Craig Venter Institute
DOC2b enrichment for the prevention and/or reversal of Type 1 Diabetes
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  • Diti Chatterjee Bhowmick, Ph.D
  • Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope
Protection of the retina from hypoxic damage due to diabetes
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  • Silke Becker, Ph.D
  • University of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center
Immunoglobulin-A (IgA) signature in the gut microbiome of type 1 diabetes progressors
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  • Khyati Girdhar, Ph.D
  • Boston College
The role of UCP2 in the maturation of stem cell-derived beta-like cells
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  • Maria Hansen, MS
  • University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus
Role of the integrated stress response in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis
In individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the insulin-producing beta cells are spontaneously destroyed by their own immune system. The trigger that provokes the immune system to destroy the beta cells is unknown. However, accumulating evidence suggest that signals are perhaps first sent out by the stressed beta cells that eventually attracts the immune cells. Stressed cells adapt different stress mitigation systems as an adaptive response. However, when these adaptive responses go awry, it results in cell death. One of the stress response mechanisms, namely the integrated stress response (ISR) is activated under a variety of stressful stimuli to promote cell survival. However, when ISR is chronically activated, it can be damaging to the cells and can lead to cell death. The role of the ISR in the context of T1D is unknown. Therefore, in this DRC funded study, we propose to study the ISR in the beta cells to determine its role in propagating T1D.
  • Charanya Muralidharan, Ph.D.
  • University of Chicago
Wearable Skin Fluorescence Imaging Patch for the Detection of Blood Glucose Level on an Engineered Skin Platform
zhang
  • Jian Zhang Ph.D
  • University of Chicago
A Potential Second Cure for T1D by Re-Educating the Patient’s Immune System
Leonardo Ferreira
  • Leonardo Ferreira, Ph.D
  • Medical University of South Carolina
Understanding How a Pancreatic Molecule (GABA) Works May Lead to a New Treatment for T1 and T2 Diabetes
Sandra Mara F.
  • Sandra Mara Ferreira, Ph.D.
  • University of Florida
Validating the Hypothesis to Cure T1D by Eliminating the Rejection of Cells From Another Person by Farming Beta Cells From a Patient’s Own Stem Cell …
Han Zhu
  • Han Zhu, Ph.D.
  • The University of California, San Diego
Taming a Particularly Lethal Category of Cells May Reduce/Eliminate the Onset of T1D
JRDwyer 2022 Lab 1
  • Jennifer Dwyer, Ph.D.
  • The Jackson Laboratory
Can the Inhibition of One Specific Body Gene Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?
Melanie
  • Melanie Shapiro, Ph.D.
  • University of Florida
Stakeholder-Engaged Precision Health for Longevity and Healthy Aging with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
Kahkoska Headshot
  • Anna Kahkoska, M.D., Ph.D.
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Is Cholesterol Exacerbating T1D by Reducing the Functionality and Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells?
Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells
  • Rehana Akter, Ph.D.
  • University of Washington
A Call to Question… Is T1D Caused by Dysfunctionality of Two Pancreatic Cells (β and α)?
Xin Tong
  • Xin Tong, Ph.D.
  • Vanderbilt University
Improving Islet Transplantation Treatment by Overcoming a Critical Roadblock for Beta-Cell Survival via Synthetic Gene Circuits that Generate “Self- …
Ashe
  • Sudipta Ashe, Ph.D.
  • University of California, San Francisco
Deciphering Maternal Type 1 Diabetes-Induced Embryonic Defects
Basu
  • Madhumita Basu, Ph.D.
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital
Will understanding why normally good but aging beta-cells accumulate with the progression of T1D unlock the mystery of this disease?
Yao Wang
  • Yao Wang, Ph.D.
  • University of California, San Francisco
Novel therapy initiative with potential path to preventing T1D by targeting TWO components of T1D development (autoimmune response and beta-cell survi …
flavia pecanha
  • Flavia Pecanha, Ph.D.
  • University of Miami
Engineering an Insulin/Glucagon Fusion Protein
Balamurugan Dhayalan, Ph.D.
  • Balamurugan Dhayalan, Ph.D.
  • Indiana University
Targeting Polyamine Biosynthesis for the Prevention of T1D
Abhishek Kulkarni
  • Abhishek Kulkarni, Ph.D.
  • University of Chicago
Combination Insulin and Non-Insulin Therapy to Address Multiple Metabolic Abnormalities in Type 1 Diabetes
Schafer Boeder
  • Schafer Boeder, MD
  • University of California, San Diego
Using Autonomous Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy in Children with T1D
Screenshot 2024 08 16 at 10.32.10 AM
  • Risa Wolf, MD
  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Preventing and Possibly Curing T1D by Blocking the Autoimmune Attack of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Michael Kalwat
  • Michael Kalwat, Ph.D.
  • Indiana Biosciences Research Institute
Advancing T1 Prevention and Cure Solutions from Cancer Research
Zoe Quandt
  • Zoe Quandt, MS, MD
  • University of California San Francisco
A New Signal to Halting T1D
Dr. Hughes
  • Jing Hughes, MD, Ph.D.
  • Washington University School of Medicine
Do Classical T1D Patients Share Genetic Makeup with ICI-Induced T1D Patients?
Jeremy Racine
  • Jeremy Racine, Ph.D.
  • The Jackson Laboratory
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We grant up to $75,000 to support each research project

#InnovativeDiabetesResearch

 
Donate Now
Submit a Project

Many exciting projects simply
couldn’t get off the ground. Until now.

Choose one or more projects you want to support. 100% of your donation, directed to a research project, will go to that scientist’s laboratory.

Submit A Research Project icon green arrow
Active Research ProjectsCompleted Projects
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We grant up to $75,000 to support each research project

#InnovativeDiabetesResearch

Donate Now
Submit A Project
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