Research to Prevent & Cure Diabetes
Under the co-direction of David Harlan, MD, and Dale Greiner, PhD, the goal of the Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCOE) at UMass Chan Medical School is to prevent and cure diabetes. Our DCOE research faculty continues to gain new knowledge about the disease by studying human tissues and human cells inside our novel biological models, which mimic the human immune system. Understanding the causes of diabetes will enable scientists to develop effective therapies and ultimately find a cure.
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Research
Using human immune cells and insulin-producing beta cells created from the stem cells of individuals living with type 1 diabetes, we can recreate that person’s diabetes by inserting their human cells into our humanized mice. This allows us to observe cell interactions in real-time and study the cause of the autoimmune attack.
The first successful “humanized” mouse model was developed by UMass DCOE co-director Dale Greiner, in collaboration with The Jackson Laboratory. We are international leaders in developing and using humanized mice, creating and utilizing the most advanced models in the world. Engrafting human tissues into our unique mice allows our scientists to directly observe the interactions and relationships between human immune cells and human insulin-producing beta cells. We're investigating why the immune cells are attacking the beta cells so we can develop and test preventative therapies.
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Research
Our scientists are isolating and greatly expanding specialized “beige" fat cells obtained from patients, which are known to alleviate diabetes. This approach is complemented by exciting research to genetically modify these cells to further improve their therapeutic effects. This work has the potential to progress into clinical trials in the near future, aiming to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.
Clinical Studies at the UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence
Ongoing clinical studies at UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Chan Medical School are focused on testing new treatment approaches to enhance the quality of life for individuals with diabetes.