BRETBiomedical Research Education and Training

David Jacobson lab

My project focuses on studying the mechanistic role of the two-pore domain potassium channel TALK-1 in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and insulin secretion in the pancreatic islets. A coding sequence polymorphism, rs1535500 in TALK-1 is linked to type 2 diabetes risk indicating its importance in glucose stimulated insulin secretion.  Thus, we are currently investigating TALK-1 as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.