Tiffany Richardson
Princeton University
Al Powers lab
In type 1 diabetes (T1D), nearly all β-cells are killed by the body's own immune system, while partial β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is thought to be a product of metabolic imbalance due to insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. The reduced β-cell mass following the development of T1D and T2D is not restored or regenerated. Regeneration of pancreatic islet β-cells and restoration of β-cell mass would re-establish regulation of blood glucose in diabetic patients. My thesis research strives to elucidate molecular pathways of β-cell proliferation and regeneration to determine effective ways to replenish β-cell mass in patients with diabetes. My research intends to take advantage of past biological models and a recently developed pseudoislet system to genetically manipulate human islet cells, particularly β-cells.