Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center Archives
Vanderbilt Diabetes Day celebrates investigational achievements, looks toward future
May. 23, 2022—Vanderbilt Diabetes Day, an annual event that showcases the work of outstanding scientists and researchers in the fields of diabetes, obesity and metabolism was held this month, and it marked the first time many investigators working under the auspices of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC) had gathered in one space since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beta cell regeneration
May. 20, 2021—Vanderbilt researchers dissected the complex microenvironment of the pancreatic islet to discover the signals that drive beta cell regeneration — as a possible treatment for diabetes.
Diabetes Day focuses on diversity, inclusion in research
Jan. 28, 2021—Vanderbilt Diabetes Day, an annual event which showcases the work of outstanding scholars and researchers in the fields of diabetes and endocrinology from throughout the United States, looked quite a bit different in November 2020 as the attendees connected virtually for sessions presented over two days.
Pancreatlas provides access to complex images of the human pancreas
Dec. 22, 2020—Images of cells and tissues are a critical part of biomedical research as they show which molecules or proteins are present and where these molecules are located in the tissue. Using increasingly sophisticated microscopes and imaging approaches, scientists can now look at more than 40 different molecules at once, an approach known as multi-plex imaging, where in the past they could only look at three or four molecules at a time.
Pseudoislet system expected to advance pancreas and diabetes research
Jul. 30, 2020—The multicellular, 3-D structure of human pancreatic islets — the areas of the pancreas containing hormone-producing or endocrine cells — has presented challenges to researchers as they study and manipulate these cells’ function, but Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have now developed a pseudoislet system that allows for much easier study of islet function.
Evans set for next Discovery Lecture
Feb. 28, 2019—Ronald Evans, PhD, renowned for his discoveries of nuclear hormone receptors and how they work, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on Thursday, March 7.
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.
Diabetes Day
Dec. 14, 2017—Research achievement was recognized recently during Diabetes Day at the Student Life Center. Among those honored were (beginning second from left) Bryan Gitschlag, Danielle Dean, PhD, Ian Williams, Caroline Presley, MD, and Suzanne Starr. Award winners are flanked by Tom Elasy, MD, MPH, (left) and Alvin Powers, MD. Diabetes Day was sponsored by the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center and the Vanderbilt Center for Diabetes Translation Research and supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Cellular calcium handling in diabetes
Sep. 28, 2017—Potassium channels in a cellular organelle regulate calcium flux and appear to play a critical role in pancreatic beta cell health.
Pancreatic islets study may spur diabetes treatment advances
Sep. 21, 2017—Investigators in the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (VDRTC) and collaborators at Stanford University have discovered new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation in juvenile human pancreatic islets, information that could lead to new treatments for diabetes.
Student’s summer research program honors her mother
Jul. 27, 2017—As a teenager, Ashley Duhon realized she wanted to become a doctor so she could help people, like her mother, who suffer from medical complications due to type 1 diabetes.
VUMC team’s discovery could lead to new diabetes treatment
Jun. 15, 2017—High circulating glucose, the hallmark of diabetes, is linked to the disease’s most serious complications including heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death and costs the nation an estimated $322 billion a year. Restoring the action of insulin has been the traditional treatment route. Insulin, a hormone...
