Program in Developmental Biology Archives

First Islet Workshop draws international audience

Sep. 13, 2018—More than 200 investigators from across the globe who specialize in islet biology, the study of hormone-producing cell clusters in the pancreas known as islets, recently gathered in Nashville to share knowledge and present the challenges and successes of their work during the first Islet Biology Workshop at Vanderbilt.

Therapeutic targets for diabetes

May. 3, 2017—Vanderbilt investigators have identified novel regulators of insulin-producing beta-cell proliferation and survival, suggesting new targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

It takes two to tango: beta cell development

Jun. 23, 2016—Defining the genes required for the function of insulin-producing beta cells is crucial for ongoing efforts to develop a cell-based therapy for diabetes.

Long-range signaling to stem cells

Oct. 9, 2014—The potential for long-range signaling factors – such as those identified in the current study – to regulate stem cell behaviors has implications in tumor progression and metastasis.

Conference highlights latest developmental biology research

May. 23, 2013—The annual Southeast Regional meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology, hosted by Vanderbilt for the first time since 2006, broke participant records with 163 investigators registered and 81 posters presented.

Pancreas cells full of potential

Feb. 18, 2013—Adult cells in the pancreas can return to a less mature state – and then become a different cell type, like the beta cells that secrete insulin.

Study helps define pancreatic cancer’s cellular origins

Jan. 17, 2013—Vanderbilt and University of California investigators have discovered the “cell of origin” for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a finding that could lead to early detection methods and new treatments.