Project Summary:
One of the most promising paths to restoring insulin production in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is islet cell transplantation. Islet cells include beta cells, the insulin producing cells attacked by the immune system in T1D. A major challenge is that transplantation using islet cells from a donor cell requires lifetime immunosuppression. To overcome this, a major area of research in the T1D field is creating beta cells out of stem cells. While scientist have been successful at getting stem cells to differentiate into beta cells, stem cell–derived beta cells still lack the characteristics of fully mature beta cells. Dr. Gangemi’s is developing a new approach to better mimic and study islet development. She uses optogenetics—a technique that introduces light-activated molecular tools into cells—to control cell behavior with exceptional precision. This method allows for rapid, repeated stimulation and offers greater accuracy than conventional approaches, such as adding growth factors, which can affect unintended cells and complicate analysis. Dr. Gangemi aims to gain a deeper understanding of the instructions needed to generate mature stem cell-derived islets. Dr. Gangemi’s innovative, and unconventional approach may uncover a more optimal way to create stem-cell derived beta cells that can be used for transplantation and cure T1D.
