Our lab has three main project areas:

1. Understanding the structure and functions that control insulin secretion within islets.

Our data prove that insulin secretion is targeted towards the vasculature.  Ongoing projects in the lab are designed to identify the importance of this targeting. The work involves advanced imaging techniques, molecular biology and electron microscopy.  We use islets from mice and humans to identify key proteins and then test for their role in controlling insulin secretion.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE DEFECTS IN INSULIN SECRETION THAT OCCUR IN DISEASE.

Changes in insulin secretion from beta cells are known to cause disease but despite a lot of work the basis of these changes is unclear. We have new data that shows that in a condition called prediabetes insulin secretion is dramatically upregulated. Using islets from diabetic mice and humans we are aiming to understand the principal mechanisms of control. 

3. refining cell-based therapies to cure diabetes.

We have established a type 1 diabetes node at the Charles Perkins Centre and are now part of a multidisciplinary team working towards a cure for type 1 diabetes.  Our experiments are testing some of the factors we are finding to be important in the control of beta cells in the islet with an aim to enhance the control of insulin secretion. For diabetic patients, cell replacement therapies have the promise, one day, to provide a cure for disease.

We have an active collaboration with Dr Steve Wise (at the Charles Perkins Centre, see here) and are testing our approaches in mouse models of type 1 diabetes.

We are collaborating with a company, Captixbio, to drive the development of new encapsulation designs to protect and support the cells used in cell replacement treatments for type 1 diabetes.