October 2024 NEWSLETTER

HIRN 2025 ANNUAL MEETING

We invite you all to attend the HIRN 10th Anniversary Meeting from January 13 – 14, 2025 at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus in Bethesda. The meeting is open to all interested in attending. For those interested in submitting an abstract for the poster sessions the deadline is end of day Friday, November 1, 2024.

Visit the meeting website to learn more and register.

HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLE OF THE MONTH:

ALPHA-CELL TARGETING

BY IMMUNE CELLS IN PRE-DIABETES

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is characterized by insulitis – a transient and heterogeneous immune cell infiltration, often occurring only on one side of the islet, or in some of the islets but not in the others. This raises the question of what characteristics make certain regions of the islet and pancreas more prone to immune attack. The Kravets lab has recently developed a mathematical framework to quantify immune-endocrine interactions during T1D, using spatial network analysis. Immune cells interact with islet cells through contact-dependent, ligand-based mechanisms. When studying immune infiltration at the islet level, researchers utilized this framework to show how immune-endocrine patterns at the islet periphery (observed in the early stage of insulitis) depend on the location of alpha cells. They showed that β-cells in the immediate proximity of the α-cells (α-linked β-cells) had significantly more immune-cell associations than other, non-α-linked β-cells on the islet periphery in NOD mice prior to T1D. Furthermore, in-silico simulations that randomized the positions of immune cells revealed a significant decrease in α-T and α-macrophage interactions upon randomization compared to the experimentally-derived networks. Overall, these findings suggest that α-cells or α-linked β-cells in the islets are primary targets during insulitis, which could help us identify new diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Manuscript Information: “Network approach reveals preferential T-cell and macrophage association with α-linked β-cells in early stage of insulitis in NOD mice”. Balasenthilkumaran NV, Whitesell JC, Pyle L, Friedman RS, Kravets V. Front. Netw. Physiol. doi: 10.3389/fnetp.2024.1393397. PMID: 38979061

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The NIDDK is planning an in person workshop on October 30-31, 2024, Bethesda MD, entitled “AI in Precision Medicine for Diabetes and Other Chronic Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Predictive AI Models and Biomarkers for Disease Initiation, Progression, Prevention, and Subtypes”. This workshop aims to bring together biomedical researchers and data science/AI experts, to discuss the critical challenges, crosscutting gaps, and opportunities and actionable items in leveraging AI and other recent data science advances in precision medicine. For more information click HERE.

SURVEY FOR PANCREAS DATABASE (PANC-DB)

The Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) Database (PANC-DB) team seeks your input through this short survey. The PANC-DB is a resource that has empowered diabetes research across a broad spectrum of scientists. We strive to continue this trajectory by hearing from you.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to help us serve you better. 

OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

dkNET Pilot Funding Program in AI Models to Accelerate Diabetes Heterogeneity Research

Are you ready to accelerate innovation in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) research by leveraging the transformative power of AI? One of the greatest challenges in T2D is the enormous heterogeneity associated with the disease. This includes heterogeneity in genetic predisposition, environmental exposure, individual physiology, biological and pathophysiological pathways in developing disease, to heterogeneity in clinical phenotypes, i.e. response to medication and treatment, and in risk for developing complications and types of complications. While the research community has accumulated a wealth of data and knowledge over the years, critical gaps remain in integrating these insights and extracting predictive signals to advance prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

But exciting opportunities are ahead! Rapid advancements in data science and AI technology present an opportunity to close these gaps. By supporting AI-driven solutions, the dkNET Pilot Program is designed to bridge the challenge by empowering researchers to develop AI-driven solutions that will shape the future of T2D research. Imagine harnessing the power of AI to extract knowledge from large datasets, develop AI models that enhance precision, and enable personalized care - this is your chance to lead the way!

We are calling on multi-disciplinary teams to come together - AI experts and diabetes researchers - to develop AI foundation models, which will be shared and used by the community, in addressing the major gaps in the study of T2D heterogeneity, and accelerating innovation and translation. Learn more HERE.

Application Due Date: November 12, 2024

The National NIH Physician Scientist DiabDocs-K12 Program



The DiabDocs program is now soliciting a fourth cycle of letters of intent for applications for our mentored career development program from early career physician scientists engaged in research relevant to diabetes and within the scope of NIDDK including basic, translational, clinical, epidemiology/biostatistical, informatics, health services or health policy projects. Most funded scholars will focus on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, and limited slots are available for persons working in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Learn more HERE.

Letter of Intent Due Date: November 12, 2024

Application Due Date: January 13, 2025

NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

PAR-23-237: Enhancement and Management of Established Biomedical Data Repositories and Knowledgebases (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• Application due date: Standard Dates
• Foreign applications allowed

NOT-DK-23-021: Notice of Special Interest: Administrative Supplements to Support Emerging Physician-Scientists to Develop Research Expertise in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases

• Application due date: February 6, 2025

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

The Mallone & You satellite laboratory has a Staff Scientist position available for a talented individual with training, knowledge and experience in immunology. As a Staff Scientist, the candidate will run the lab locally and lead the research projects at IBRI. The incumbent will design and perform experiments, critically analyze the results obtained, generate reports and use this information to fine-tune the starting hypotheses and design new experiments. Interested applicants please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the names of three references, to Dr. Roberto Mallone. 

Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) in Seattle, WA seeks to recruit several outstanding investigators for new faculty positions at the Assistant or Associate Member level, equivalent to Assistant or Associate Professor. We seek candidates who use innovative experimental and/or computational approaches to study immune system function in health and disease, with a particular emphasis on autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. Qualified candidates should send an application package comprising a single pdf document including their curriculum vitae, a research describing their research plan and goals, a cover letter describing how their research fits with the focus of BRI, and the names and contact information for at least 3 references HERE.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine (Heersink SOM) and the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) are continuing the recruitment of up to 10 investigators for a major strategic portfolio increase across basic, translational, clinical, and population science research efforts in diabetes. Of note, one of the priority focus areas is islet biology.

This an open rank recruitment for faculty applicants with an MD, PhD or MD/PhD and includes academic appointment in one or more of 27 academic departments, many of which rank in the top 10 nationally in NIH funding. Successful candidates will join half a dozen recently recruited faculty as well as the rest of the highly collaborative 200 UCDC faculty members.

For a more detailed position announcement and to apply, please visit HERE.

RESEARCH STAFF/ADMIN

The University of Florida Diabetes Institute is looking for highly motivated and team-science minded individual with managerial experience, who will serve as the Operational Director of a series of programs at the University of Florida that utilize tissues obtained from organ donors to address important research questions, largely but not exclusively related to diabetes, including its pathogenesis and disease-related complications.

The individual in this position will be involved in programmatic designs and is responsible for implementing the various strategic plans for each program and ensuring their success. Importantly, this individual will be responsible for monitoring grant budgets, negotiating numerous financial and legal contracts, preparing external reports, and supervising local administrative staff. Interested applicants please apply directly through the UF Jobs or send a cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the names of three references to Dr. Mark Atkinson, Institute Director.

Postdoctoral Position

The University of Michigan Multidisciplinary Training Program in Basic Diabetes Research seeks applicants for an NIH-funded postdoctoral trainee position. The primary goal is to develop trainees to have a deep understanding of the molecular aspects of diabetes and to prepare Ph.D. basic scientists for research careers in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Our training program includes mentors in the area of pancreatic beta cell biology as well as other molecular and cellular aspects of diabetes science. Training is a combination of immersion in specific laboratory-based research projects, formal education, mentorship, and participation in a variety of other research-related educational activities. This program has a track record of success for all of its former trainees. Interested applicants please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the names of three references, to Dr. Peter Arvan. 

Postdoctoral Position

The Thurmond Lab in the Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, within the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, is looking for a highly motivated and team-science minded Postdoctoral Fellow, to study the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating functional beta cell mass, skeletal muscle insulin action, whole body glucose homeostasis, and healthspan/lifespan. The lab specializes in detailed studies of signaling/trafficking/exocytosis, using primary human and rodent islet cells, skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes. Interested applicants please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the names of three references, to Dr. Debbie Thurmond.