Research Description
Men are at higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with women based on population studies. This differential risk may partially be attributed to the higher insulin secretory capacities of female pancreatic cells compared with males. However, what drives the difference in secretion is not well understood. In the preliminary study, Wang identified gene expression signatures in male pancreatic cells indicating they are predisposed to cellular stress. Wang also found evidence of sex-specificity in the genetic regulatory process that may contribute to the differences in diabetes risk between females and males. In this proposed study, Wang will use cutting-edge genetics and genomics approaches to follow up on the preliminary findings and investigate multiple axes of the sex differences in the pancreatic cells. This study will contribute to the understanding of sex as a biological variable in the development of T2D. Knowledge from this study could lead to effective and sex-specific therapies in diabetes prevention and treatment.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?This project seeks to identify the genetic pathways that drive the sex-specific trajectories of type 2 diabetes. Through our work, we will begin to understand how the molecular underpinnings of pancreatic islet cells in females and males determine their different cellular phenotypes and functions, especially in terms of their stress responses. Our research will prioritize sex-specific molecular targets that can be used in the precision therapeutics of type 2 diabetes.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?Our work will help to explain at the molecular level why females appear to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with males. By recognizing the sex-specific pathways, we can then develop effective streategy for sex-aware diabetes prevention and treatment.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?I have been studying pancreatic islets since the start of my science career in graduate school. The islet is such an elegant system that cooperates and performs impressively complex biological functions to regulate blood glucose at an extremely narrow range. I am fascinated by islet biology and want to learn more. I am also passionate about translating what we learn in the laboratory to clinical diabetes management to make an impact on patients' life. This goal is close to my heart because of my family history of diabetes. This ADA award will galvanize my research and support the research to progress toward translational deliverables.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?I see the future of diabetes research to be able to better define the disease and tailor the treatment to each individual based on their unique characteristics and disease trajectory.