Confocal immunofluorescence images of islets with insulin (green), and DAPI (blue) adapted from Banerjee et al. Diabetes 2016
Model Integrating pathways involved in gestational beta-cell proliferation (adapted from Banerjee Annals of NYAS 2018
Our research aims to expand the understanding of how hormones regulate pancreatic islets in health and disease.
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We are currently focused on normal beta-cell adaptive mechanisms during pregnancy, and how defects in these processes may lead to beta-cell dysfunction and contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
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We hope elucidating physiologic mechanisms of gestational beta-cell adaptation will identify novel therapeutic targets to expand functional beta-cell mass and treat all types of diabetes.
We are actively seeking graduate students from the UAB GBS programs!
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Important Lab News and events:
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June 2020:
KaLia Burnette is awarded a spot on the UAB CMDB T32 training grant. Congrats!
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April 2020:
Dr. Banerjee is awarded a R01 grant from the NIDDK to study
"Pregnancy-specific mechanisms regulating beta-cell proliferation and mass"
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May 2019:
Prolactin Receptor Regulates a Pregnancy-Specific Transcriptional Program in Mouse Islets (Pepin et al.) published in Endocrinology !
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​Details novel PRLR target genes in gestational beta-cells, and uses bioinformatics to identify transcriptional regulatory networks downstream of PRLR in beta-cells during pregnancy. ​
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