Danielle Dean

Danielle Dean, PhD

Danielle Dean receives award for excellence in the field of islet research

Dean identified a liver-alpha cell axis (LACA), a crosstalk between liver glucagon signaling and alpha cell sensing of amino acids.

Targeting glucagon action in diabetes

Disrupting the action of glucagon — a pancreatic hormone that works to raise blood glucose — restores functional insulin-producing cells in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and may be a promising treatment strategy.

Insulin in vials

VUMC team’s discovery could lead to new diabetes treatment