Deciphering genetic codes: enhancing beta cell maturation for diabetes treatment

Manuel Irimia

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot control blood sugar levels properly. This is because the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, called beta cells, are either destroyed or do not function well. Scientists are trying to create beta cells from stem cells in the lab to help treat diabetes. However, these lab-made cells do not work as well as natural ones.

The team has already found that beta cells and nerve cells share some genetic patterns that are important for their function, and these patterns are not well established in beta cells created in the lab. Therefore, understanding how beta cells mature and studying these patterns, they aim to find ways to make lab-made beta cells work better.

Genetic changes that occur as beta cells develop and mature will be traced and mapped using advanced techniques, as well as they will also test small molecules that might help improve the function of these cells by modulating these genetic changes.

The team includes experts in genetics, cell biology, and diabetes research, ensuring having the skills needed to achieve their goals, hoping to create better lab-made beta cells that can be used in treatments for diabetes. This could lead to more effective therapies and improve the life of people with diabetes.

• Maike Sander, Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany

• Berta Fuste, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain

Targeting microexons and neural-related splicing programs to enhance in vitro beta cell maturation

€999,847.40