INNOVATIVE THERAPEUTICS FOR DIABETES: UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECTION OF INSULIN SECRETION DYSFUNCTION AND LOSS
Department : Physiology and Cancer
Research subject
Pancreatic β cells are the only cell type capable of synthesizing and secreting insulin. While autoimmune mechanisms lead to the loss of b cells in type 1 diabetes, the mechanisms involved in type 2 diabetes are multiple and complex resulting in a lack of insulin secretion and a reduction in β cell mass. Our research projects propose to develop innovative automated insulin delivery systems in order to optimize the supply of insulin, to improve the transplantation of pancreatic islets and to define new targets and therapeutic strategies to prevent the b cell dysfunction and death.
1- Development of automated insulin therapy combining an insulin pump, continuous glucose measurement and control algorithms according to a predictive model ("artificial pancreas") for the therapy of type 1 diabetes.
2- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of pancreatic islet transplantation in the therapy of insulinopenic diabetes.
3- Development and evaluation of metabolic surgery in diabetes therapy (surgical team of Prof. David Nocca).
4- Better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling the function and survival of pancreatic β cells.
5- Study of the deleterious effects of diabetogenic conditions (high calorie diets rich in fat, chronic hyperglycemia, inflammation) on the secretion and survival of pancreatic β cells.
6- Evaluation of the effectiveness of future drug combinations to preserve insulin secretion. Identification of new therapeutic strategies in order to restore and/or preserve a functional mass of pancreatic β cells in patients with diabetes.
Islet of Langerhans and pancreatic beta cells
