Characterize structure and intracellular interactions within engineered human pseudoislets.

This proposed research builds on my current PhD thesis research, where I have characterized and validated a micro-tissue engineering platform that can be used to efficiently generate pancreatic islet-cell clusters (“pseudoislets”) that have significantly increased insulin secretion capacity, and superior capacity to reverse diabetes in animal studies. These findings have suggested a strong therapeutic prospect for my engineered pseudoislets in the treatment of type 1 diabetes through clinical islet transplantation. The proposed research focuses on characterizing my engineered pseudoislets structurally as well as physiologically, and comparing them to normal human islets. Taking advantage of state-of-the-art imaging technology at University of Oxford and my micro-tissue engineering expertise, I will reveal the cellular architecture of pseudoislets and their cell communication networks. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Ungrin

Student:

Partner:

University of Oxford

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Biotechnology; Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of Calgary

Program: