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Pathophysiology - Previously Funded

Dr. Catherine B. Chan (Operating Grant funded 2009-2010)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: Constitutive activation of nuclear factor kappa-B in mouse beta-cells

Dr. Catherine Chan was investigating how chronic activation of a protein (called NFkB) can make beta cells from mice more resistant to developing diabetes-like characteristics. Dr. Chan's research could help lead to treatment strategies that increase factors that prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Jason R. B. Dyck (Operating Grant funded 2009-2010)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: Abnormal fatty acid metabolism and the development of insulin resistance

Dr. Jason Dyck was studying a novel pathway that may be contributing to the development of insulin resistance in the middle-aged population. Dr. Dyck's research could help identify a treatment for insulin resistance associated with aging and diet-induced obesity, which may also be used for treatment of the majority of Canadians (>40 years old) who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Jason R. B. Dyck (Grant-in-Aid (Operating Grant) funded 2006-2009)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: AMPK activation for the treatment of insulin resistance

In type 2 diabetes, muscle cells cannot use insulin effectively (insulin resistance). Activation of a protein called AMPK help muscle cells use more glucose. Dr. Dyck will test new ways of activating AMPK. These studies will help to determine whether AMPK is a useful way of treating type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Marc S. Horwitz (Operating Grant funded 2009-2012)

University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

Title: Signaling through toll-like receptors influences regulatory T cells and consequently the development of type 1 diabetes

Dr. Marc Horwitz is studying whether environmental factors, such as bacteria and viruses, lead to the development of type 1 diabetes. Following an infection, your body's immune system sometimes inappropriately targets its own cells, such as insulin-secreting beta cells. Dr. Horwitz' research may provide insights into the development of better treatment approaches and preventative tools for type 1 diabetes.

 

Dr. James D. Johnson (Operating Grant funded 2008-2011)

University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

Title: Novel pathways in fatty acid-induced beta cell death: Gene-environment interactions.

One of the causes of type 2 diabetes may be an imbalance between the growth of new insulin-producing beta cells and the death of old ones. Dr. Johnson has discovered that genes linked to diabetes are also linked to the process of beta-cell death. He has also found that high levels of fats in the blood can kill beta cells. He wants to better understand how this occurs. This research may help support ways to prevent, manage and even cure diabetes.

 

Dr. James D. Johnson (Scholar Award funded 2006-2011)

University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

Title: Calcium-dependent pathways in fatty acid-induced beta-cell death: Gene-environment interactions

Dr. James D. Johnson wants to better understand how high levels of fat in the blood kill insulin-producing cells in type 2 diabetes. Dr. Johnson's research may help prevent, manage and even cure diabetes.

 

Dr. Amira Klip (Operating Grant funded 2009-2012)

Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, ON)

Title: Interplay between fatty acids and macrophages in the genesis and relief of muscle cell insulin resistance

Dr. Amira Klip is studying whether high levels of saturated fats and high levels of sugar in the blood impact the immune system which may, in turn, cause or worsen insulin resistance. As insulin resistance precedes type 2 diabetes, understanding the causes of such resistance should help in designing new treatments to prevent or delay the progression of the disease.

 

Dr. Amira Klip (Grant-in-Aid (Operating Grant) funded 2006-2009)

Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, ON)

Title: Bypassing insulin resistance of muscle cells caused by ceramide, oxidative stress and macrophage-co-culture

In type 2 diabetes, muscle tissue does not use insulin effectively (otherwise known as insulin resistance). The electrical changes that trigger muscles to contract also allow muscle cells to use glucose from the bloodstream. Dr. Klip will study whether these kinds of electrical changes can be used to make muscle cells less resistant to insulin. This may lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Patrick E. MacDonald (Operating Grant funded 2008-2011)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: The novel G-protein-coupled P13 kinase: role in beta-cell function

Dr. Patrick E. MacDonald was studying how certain proteins control insulin release. Understanding how insulin release is controlled could help us better understand what leads to type 2 diabetes, and may help us find new ways of treating type 2 diabetes.

 

Patrick E. MacDonald (Innovation Grant funded 2008-2009)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: Role of peptide SUMOylation in beta-cell function

Proteins called SUMOs have been associated with type 2 diabetes. SUMOs control how other proteins work. They may control some proteins in the insulin-secreting beta cells. Dr. MacDonald wants to find out which SUMOs appear in beta cells and whether they control insulin secretion. Understanding the role of SUMOs in insulin secretion may help us find ways of preventing or treating type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Patrick E. MacDonald (Scholar Award funded 2006-2011)

University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Title: The Novel G-protein-coupled PI3 kinase: Role in beta-cell function

Dr. Patrick E. MacDonald is studying how certain proteins control insulin release. Understanding how insulin release is controlled may help us better understand what leads to type 2 diabetes, and may help us find new ways of treating type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Lucy Marzban (Scholar Award funded 2007-2012)

University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

Title: Molecular mechanisms of islet amyloid-induced beta cell death

In people with type 2 diabetes, a substance called islet amyloid builds up in the pancreas and plays a role in the death of insulin-producing beta cells. Caspases are a group of enzymes that induce cell death. Dr. Marzban will investigate if islet amyloid kills beta cells by turning on caspases, and whether turning them off will improve the survival of beta cells. This information may lead to new ways of treating type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Ciriaco A. Piccirillo (Operating Grant funded 2007-2010)

McGill University (Montréal, QC)

Title: Functional impact of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in autoimmune diabetes

Dr. Ciriaco A. Piccirillo was researching how the body's immune system attacks its own insulin-producing cells in people with type 1 diabetes. Dr. Piccirillo's aim was to explore how certain immune cells may actually protect against type 1 diabetes. Dr. Piccirillo's research could help lead to new ways of preventing type 1 diabetes.

 

Dr. Alexey V. Pshezhetsky (Operating Grant funded 2009-2010)

Center de recherche CHU Sainte-Justine (Montréal, QC)

Title: Lysosomal sialidase Neu1: novel role in insulin signalling

Dr. Alexey Pshezhetsky (Montreal) is studying how absorption of sugar is controlled by insulin in a genetically modified strain of mice that develops insulin resistance and diabetes after being fed a high fat diet. Dr. Pshezhetsky's studies may identify novel predictors of disease and potential targets for drug development for type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Qinghua Wang (Operating Grant funded 2007-2010)

St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto, ON)

Title: Study the role of ALK7 in modulating islet beta cell function

Dr. Qinghua Wang was examining how certain proteins, when activated, speed up the death of beta cells. Dr. Wang's research could help lead to new ways of treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Rui Wang (Operating Grant funded 2009-2010)

Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, ON)

Title: Hydrogen sulfide and pancreatic insulin metabolism

Dr. Rui Wang was exploring whether high levels of hydrogen sulfide (conventionally known as an air pollutant) produced by beta cells affects insulin production, secretion, and function. Dr. Wang's research could help us better understand how diabetes develops under these specific conditions.

 

Dr. Michael B. Wheeler (Operating Grant funded 2009-2012)

University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)

Title: The identification of proteins linked to the development of type-2 diabetes: A quantitative proteomics approach

Dr. Michael B. Wheeler is trying to determine the exact underlying initial cause of type 2 diabetes by studying beta cell function in normal, prediabetic and diabetic mice. Dr. Wheeler's research may help explain how problems with insulin secretion arise and, subsequently, how and why people develop type 2 diabetes.

 

Dr. Michael B. Wheeler (Grant-in-Aid (Operating Grant) funded 2006-2009)

University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)

Title: The use of novel animal models to investigate defects in beta cell function that develop during the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot use insulin effectively (insulin resistance). As well, the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin. Dr. Wheeler will explore the relationship between these 2 problems. He will look at whether insulin resistance stops the pancreas from releasing enough insulin. He wants to explain how problems with insulin secretion arise and thus, why and how people develop type 2 diabetes.

 

Currently Funded