Dr. Nikki Farnsworth, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at Colorado School of Mines, has been awarded a significant $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to deepen the understanding of Type 1 diabetes. This five-year grant from the NIH’s Division of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases aims to explore the role of the pancreatic microenvironment in regulating insulin secretion and potentially uncover new therapeutic targets.
Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition affecting approximately 2 million people in the U.S., destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This condition can present at any age and varies significantly in its manifestation and progression among individuals. Despite advances in medical research, the understanding of Type 1 diabetes lags behind that of other diseases, such as cancer, with current treatments primarily limited to insulin injections.
Dr. Farnsworth’s research focuses on the pancreatic microenvironment—the intricate cellular and molecular landscape of the pancreas. Her team at Mines is utilizing biomaterials to replicate this environment in the lab. By creating synthetic hydrogel scaffolds embedded with extracellular matrix proteins, they aim to simulate the pancreatic islet environment. This approach allows for the study of how these proteins influence islet function and insulin secretion in both healthy and diabetic conditions.
Significant changes to the pancreatic microenvironment occur during Type 1 diabetes progression, but their exact impact on disease development remains unclear. Understanding these changes could reveal new therapeutic targets, potentially leading to preventive measures or improved treatments for those at risk.
Dr. Farnsworth collaborates with researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where she also serves as an Adjoint Assistant Professor. This partnership enables the translation of basic research findings into preclinical models, enhancing the potential for real-world applications.
“The most exciting aspect of this project is its potential to challenge existing paradigms in Type 1 diabetes research,” Dr. Farnsworth stated. “While the disease has long been recognized as an autoimmune disorder, there is growing evidence that insulin-producing islet beta cells might also play a significant role in its progression.”
By better understanding the pancreatic islet microenvironment, Dr. Farnsworth hopes to improve early diagnosis and prevention strategies. “Currently, many patients are diagnosed after experiencing a major health crisis,” she explained. “As a mother of two young children, this concern is deeply personal. Our goal is to advance the field to offer better solutions for patients and their families.”
This NIH grant represents a pivotal step forward in Type 1 diabetes research, offering new hope for more effective treatments and preventative measures in the future.
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