It is now established that failure of pancreatic beta cells is the underlying cause of Type 2 diabetes, as well as Type 1 diabetes. In our lab we study multiple aspets of the function of these cells: how they make and secrete insulin in response to nutrient stimuli; how these processes are disrupted in diabetes; and how the life and death of beta cells are regulated.

A particular focus is how chronic lipid oversupply promotes many of the features of beta cell failure associated with type 2 diabetes. We have used this model to identify key roles for cellular processes such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and inflammation. Our studies span a range of specialities from cellular assays (molecular and cellular biology, signal transduction, and metabolism), through to in vivo physiology, and encompass systems biological approaches especially lipidomics.

We are also extending our unique insights from these pre-clinical models in an attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Lab News

View the lab's winning YouTube video below!

“The Beta Cell”  http://youtu.be/eDJ3VRrWvt0