TheSugarScience Podcast- curating the scientific conversation in type 1 diabetes

Episode 34: Avnesh Thakor, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiology at Stanford University Medical Center

In this episode, Avnesh Thakor joins Sajeev Saluja to discuss bioscaffolds that are used to support pancreatic islet transplantation. Dr. Thakor's research interests are focused primarily on the pancreas, with respect to regenerative medicine and oncology. In Thakor's lab they are creating biocompatible 3D structures which contain spaces to accommodate islets. These bioscaffolds will aim to facilitate oxygen generation and angiogenesis, both of which are essential for islet survival and function.

 

To learn more about his research in the lab follow the link below.

Thakor Lab 

Episode 33: Tiffany Richardson, PhD candidate, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

In this episode, Tiffany Richardson joins Monica Westley to discuss her ongoing research in the Powers-Brissova Research Group. Richardson's research focuses on elucidating the innervation landscape within the exocrine and endocrine portions of the pancreas.

Want to read more about Richardson's work? Follow the links below.

Coordinated interactions between endothelial cells and macrophages in the islet microenvironment promote β cell regeneration

2140-P: Pancreatic Islet and Exocrine Tissue Innervation Is Not Altered in Type 1 Diabetes

 

Episode 32: Alexandra Smink, PhD, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

In this episode, Alexandra Smink joins Monica Westley to discuss her research in the type 1 diabetes space. Dr. Smink's research focuses on polymer scaffolds for pancreatic islet transplantation. In 2018, Dr. Smink was awarded the young investigator JDRF award and most recently was awarded the EASD Rising Star Award.

Using so-called extracellular matrix, which can be used to wrap the islets up and, thus, protect them from the outside world where the immune system lurks, Dr Smink from the Netherlands has designed a device capable of communicating with this outside world but doing so safely, in order to get the nutrients, oxygen and other molecules that the islets need to survive.

Episode 31: Patrick MacDonald, PhD, & Jasmine Maghera, University of Alberta

In this episode, Patrick MacDonald and Jasmine Maghera join Monica Westley to discuss the ongoing research in Dr. Patrick's laboratory. Some exciting new directions in the laboratory include islet-cell phenotyping by combined patch-clamp and single-cell sequencing; and computational modelling of human islet cell profiles.

 

To learn more about MacDonald Islet Biology Laboratory, click the link below.

MacDonald Islet Biology Laboratory

Episode 30: Lonnie Shea, PhD, William and Valerie Hall Chair, Biomedical Engineering Steven A. Goldstein Collegiate Professor at University of Michigan

In this episode, Lonnie Shea joins Monica Westley to discuss the intersection of regenerative medicine, immune engineering, precision health and type 1 diabetes. Dr. Shea's projects include islet transplantation for diabetes therapy and nerve regeneration for treating paralysis. 

 

To learn more about the ongoing research taking place at The Shea Lab, click on the link below. 

The Shea Lab

Episode 29: Adam Ramzy, MD/PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia

In this episode, Adam Ramzy joins Monica Westley to discuss his recent publication, Revisiting proinsulin processing: evidence that human β-cells process proinsulin with prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 but not PC2. Adam's research projects include investigating prohormone processing and developing gene and cell based therapies for diabetes in the lab of Dr. Timothy Kieffer. 

 

To learn more about The Kieffer Lab, click on the link below.

The Kieffer Lab

Episode 28: Adebola Giwa, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

In this episode, Adebola Giwa joins Monica Westley to discuss his bench and clinical research in the type 1 diabetes space. Dr. Giwa is a research investigator in The Hamad Laboratory. His bench research is focused on identifying unconventional lymphocytes and studying their role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes to possibly target them for future immunotherapies. His clinical research involves multi-center clinical trials utilizing islet cell transplants to reestablished insulin production and other beta cell function in people with established type 1 diabetes. 

Checkout his recent publication:

Current understandings of the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes: Genetics to environment

Episode 27: Daniel Espes, MD, PhD, Associate Professor at Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, Co-Founder of Digital Diabetes Analytics

In this episode, Daniel Espes joins Monica Westley to discuss his work and dedication to type 1 diabetes research. Dr. Espes is the co-founder of Digital Diabetes Analytics. The mission of Digital Diabetes Analytics is to create a bridge between diabetes data and knowledge in order to make life more flexible for everyone living with insulin treated diabetes.

 

Interested in learning more about Dr. Espes work?

Take a look at some of his recent data: ProTrans shows significant effect in Diabetes

Episode 26: Lucy Walker, PhD, University College London, The Walker Lab

In this episode, Lucy Walker joins Monica Westley to discuss her research at the Walker Lab at the University College London. The group is exploring how CD4 T cell mediated immune responses are initiated and regulated. The principle research goal is to understand why immune regulation fails in certain individuals resulting in destructive autoimmune responses against self-tissues. 

To learn more about the Walker Lab, click on the link below!

The Walker Lab

Recent Publication:

Follicular helper Tcell profiles predict response to costimulation blockade in type 1 diabetes

Episode 25: Eimear Dolan, PhD, SFI Royal Society University Research Fellow and Lecturer Biomedical Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway

In this episode, Eimear Dolan joins Monica Westley to discuss her work with implantable medical devices for treating type 1 diabetes. In the interview she also provides some great advice for researchers.

Dr. Dolan has recently been named as one of 10 global visionaries in MIT Technology Review's annual list of Innovators Under 35. Dolan and colleagues have developed a soft robotic device known as a dynamic soft reservoir to improve the longterm performance of implanted medical devices.