Confocal immunofluorescence images of islets with insulin (green), and DAPI (blue) adapted from Banerjee et al. Diabetes 2016

tSNE of single-cell RNA sequencing of islets from nonpregnant and pregnant mice organized by cell type

Our group is working to expand the understanding of how hormones regulate pancreatic islets in health and disease. 

A major focus of the lab is to define the normal physiologic adaptations of islets, particularly insulin-producing beta-cells, to the metabolic stress of pregnancy.  We hope to use this knowledge to determine how defective adaptation contributes to gestational diabetes (GDM).  

We anticipate that uncovering mechanisms of gestational beta-cell adaptation will help identify novel therapeutic strategies to expand functional beta-cell mass and lead to new treatments for of all types of diabetes.