December 2023 NEWSLETTER

LATEST HIRN SCIENCE

HIRN Researchers from the University of Chicago and Indiana University have identified a promising new potential treatment for type 1 diabetes - a repurposed drug called α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). Unlike traditional therapies targeting the immune system, DFMO appears to protect beta cells against the inflammatory response. This approach could reduce dependence on injections and offer a new avenue for managing the disease. The published study, which included preclinical data supporting the beta cell-protective role of the DFMO target, ornithine decarboxylase, and a clinical trial in subjects with recent onset T1D, confirmed the safety and potential of DFMO in stabilizing C-peptide levels. One key advantage of DFMO is its existing FDA approval for other uses, significantly reducing the time needed for regulatory approval for type 1 diabetes. This research emphasizes the dawn of a new era in type 1 diabetes treatment, where drugs focusing on beta cells may be leveraged to modify T1D progression. Read the official press release HERE.  

Manuscript Information: Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves β cell function in type 1 diabetes. Sims EK, Kulkarni A, Hull A, Woerner SE, Cabrera S, Mastrandrea LD, Hammoud B, Sarkar S, Nakayasu ES, Mastracci TL, Perkins SM, Ouyang F, Webb-Robertson BJ, Enriquez JR, Tersey SA, Evans-Molina C, Long SA, Blanchfield L, Gerner EW, Mirmira RG, DiMeglio LA. Cell Rep Med. 2023 Nov 21;4(11):101261.Doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023. 101261. Epub 2023 Nov. 1 PMID: 37918404

TIPS FOR THE NIH DATA SHARING MANDATE

Reoccurring Series

Tip #6: Accessing Scientific Data

The NIH deeply values making research results available to the public. The NIH believes that allowing others to access data enables data reuse, increases transparency, and facilitates reproducibility of research results. It is suggested that researchers make data available in a repository; however, the NIH does not require the use of a particular repository. To bolster data sharing, NIH supports a number of data repositories, which support a wide variety of datasets. The NIH provides a list of repositories for specific types of data, along with repositories that accept all types of data. Selecting a repository is left to the discretion up to the researcher, as long as the data can be accessible to the public.  

Click HERE to access the detailed information regarding data accessibility, along with the list of suggested repositories provided by the NIH.

UPCOMING WEBINAR

National NIH K12 DiabDocs Career Development Session. "How to write a K Grant and other Career Development Awards." Wed., Dec 20, 2023, 12 pm PT.

Presenter: Crystal Botham, PhD, Stanford University

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLIIIITo register click HERE.

The next dkNET Webinar "An Encyclopedia of the Adipose Tissue Secretome to identify Mediators of Health and Disease" will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, 11 am - 12 pm PT.

Presenters: Paul Cohen, MD, PhD, and Albert Resnick, MD, Rockefeller University



To register click HERE.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

NEW NIH COMMON FUND PROGRAM

The NIH Common Fund is conducting strategic planning for a potential Complement-Animal Research In Experimentation (Complement-ARIE) program to catalyze the development, standardization, validation, and use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that will more accurately model human biology.

As part of planning for this potential program, the NIH’s Office of Strategic Coordination (which oversees the Common Fund) has launched a prize competition to solicit entries for new methods and approaches that would complement, make more efficient, or in some cases, replace traditional models transforming the way biomedical science is conducted. Winning ideas could help to inform the goals of the Complement-ARIE program concept.



The submission deadline is January 11, 2024.

To learn more and to register to submit your ideas, please visit HERE.

NIH NIDDK DATA-CENTRIC CHALLENGE

Help NIDDK enhance the utility of NIDDK datasets for AI applications! NIDDK and NIDDK Central Repository are hosting a data-centric challenge with the goal of generating an “AI-ready” dataset that can be used for future data challenges and to produce methods that can be used to enhance the AI-readiness of NIDDK data. Participants will enhance data on Type 1 Diabetes available through the NIDDK Central Repository from the TEDDY and TrialNet studies. Challenge runs from December 1, 2023 - January 10, 2024.



Please visit Challenge.gov to learn more about the challenge, how to enter, eligibility, and prizes. For more information click HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IIDP

DIABETES RESOURCE AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Integration Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) is proud to announce the selection of four exciting projects for funding as part of the inaugural Technology Resource Award (TRA) and Data Resource Trainee Scholar Award (DRTSA) programs. All proposals were subjected to scientific peer review by external diabetes researchers, many of whom are members of HIRN.

The projects selected for TRA funding are:

• “Optimization of Human Pancreatic Slice Procurement, Culture, and Distribution.” Dr. Juan Dominguez-Bendala, University of Miami.

• “Strategies to Optimize Isolation of Ductal Epithelial Cells from Human Pancreas.” Dr. Rebecca Hull-Meichle, VA Puget Sound Health Care System.



• “Concomitant Metabolic and Functional Analysis of Multiple Tissue Types.” Dr. Ian Sweet, University of Washington.  

Additionally, Dr. David Ramirez at the University of California, San Diego was selected for funding as part of the DRTSA program, which will utilize the IIDP’s Research Data Repository (RDR).



These projects will make valuable new contributions towards the advancement of diabetes research and IIDP’s mission to serve diabetes researchers worldwide.

WIELD PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

ADVOCACY GROUP

We invite you to join WIELD (Women Inspiring and Elevating Leadership in Diabetes). 

WIELD is an advocacy group for professional women (and allies) in diabetes and obesity-related fields. We focus on providing resources for networking and career development, and on using our voice to recognize the accomplishments of, and removing obstacles that limit the career advancement for, women in our field.

For more information and free membership, visit HERE

NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

RFA-DK-23-004: Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (HIRN-CMAD) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application due date: March 20, 2024
• Foreign applications are not eligible

NOT-DK-24-001: Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Cardiovascular Repository – Type 1 Diabetes (CARE-T1D) Consortium (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application due date: April 11, 2024

Below is a summary of the most recent job postings by category (Faculty, Research Staff/Admin, Postdoc). Visit the HIRN Website for a full listing of job opportunities.

LEADERSHIP/FACULTY

Assistant/Associate Professor

The Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University seeks an immunologist in pancreatic disorders to join the Division as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor in the University Tenure Line, University Medical Line, or the Non-Tenure Line (Research). The successful applicant should have experience in leading projects that characterize the immune landscape, using high end immune profiling, of either pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, pancreatic insufficiency, or pancreas development and has a vision to partner with physicians and scientists at Stanford to make breakthroughs in focused areas in this space. Applicants for the position should send a CV and a brief letter to include an optional diversity statement HERE.

RESEARCH STAFF/ADMIN

Senior Research Investigator

Senior Investigator will lead ongoing research projects and the staff of NIH-sponsored beta-cell biology projects. Ensure the successful execution of ongoing studies, analyze the scientific results to prepare presentations and write manuscripts based on those results. Supervise existing laboratory staff, including facilitation, documentation, analysis and communication needed for ongoing laboratory work on behalf of the Principal Investigator.  For more information, please click HERE.

Postdoctoral Position

The Imperial College London, under the direction of Dr. Dominguez-Villar is recruiting a passionate and self-motivated postdoctoral research associate with expertise in the identification and characterization of antigen-specific T cells in humans.  The research programme led by Dr. Dominguez-Villar focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that maintain peripheral tolerance, with a particular focus on human regulatory T cell identity and plasticity and the regulation of CD4⁺ T cell responses in autoimmune and infectious disease settings. Interested Applicants for the position should send a CV, a brief statement of their research interests, and contact information with three references to Dr. Margarita Dominguez-Villar.

Postdoctoral Position

The Stitzel Lab at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT is recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate to join their scientific team working to understand the precise genetic mechanisms controlling pancreatic islet identity and function and identify genes and response pathways that can be therapeutically targeted to prevent islet dysfunction and enhance islet resilience. Interested applicants for the position should send a CV, a brief statement of their research interests, and contact information with three references to Miriam Ortiz. 

Postdoctoral Position

The Arvan laboratory (University of Michigan) has availability for one postdoctoral trainee in the area of pancreatic beta cell biology of the secretory pathway. The primary focus of work in the Arvan lab centers around the genes and environmental factors controlling the biogenesis and storage of insulin secretory granules, and defects in such genes/factors that contribute to the development of beta cell failure in diabetes. It is expected that the successful postdoctoral candidate for this position would have recent PhD training in cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, or related field. For more information, contact Dr. Peter Arvan, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes, University of Michigan, Dr. Arvan.

Postdoctoral Position

The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston, are seeking candidates who are highly motivated, detail-oriented, collaborative, and have excellent writing and verbal communication skills to join our research team. Individuals with experience in animal physiology, molecular biology, and cell biology are desired. The ideal candidates should be skilled in handling animals, mouse genetics, microscopy, and basic cell culture methods. Additional experience in transcriptomics, metabolomics, or bioinformatics is desired, but not required. To apply, please email your CV, a cover letter stating research experience and goals, along with three references to Dr. Cox.

Postdoctoral Position

The University of California, Los Angeles is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral associate interested in the interface of diabetes research and molecular imaging. This highly translatable research seeks to leverage the non-destructive, whole-body, and quantitative power of molecular imaging to directly visualize host immune-mediated rejection of allogenic β-islet grafts. The candidate is expected to lead this research initiative and deliver on research milestones described in the collaborative research initiative funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF). Candidates with experience in diabetes research interested in engaging in innovative molecular imaging or molecular imaging scientists excited to engage in research on the intersection of immunology and diabetes are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should provide a CV, cover letter, three references, and a summary of research experience to Dr. Ikotun. 

Postdoctoral Position

The Ferreira laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston, SC (http://www.ferreiralab.com) is seeking highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellows interested in designing and developing engineered conventional and regulatory T cell therapies for autoimmune disease and cancer. Our research program is diverse, combining T cell biology, synthetic biology, and genome engineering approaches to study autoimmunity and cancer in immunocompetent and humanized mouse models of disease. Selected candidates will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team and will be encouraged to develop their own research interests. Candidates must have a PhD in biology, immunology, or a related field. Applicants for the position should send a CV, a brief statement of their research interests, and contact information for three references to Dr. Leonardo Ferreira.