Basic Mechanisms of Diabetes and Metabolism – BMDM

Topics

• Adipocyte biology, adipogenesis, tissue plasticity (e.g., beiging/browning of white adipose tissue).
• Signaling pathways involved in integration of thermogenic processes at cellular level.
• Stem cell biology, cell-based regenerative and tissue engineering approaches for thermogenic adipose tissue.
• Pancreatic islet cell biology, islet cell plasticity (e.g., fate switching of cells in the pancreatic islet).
• Islet cell replication, stem cell biology, cell-based regenerative and tissue engineering approaches to replace islet cell function.
• Insulin action, insulin resistance, and mechanisms of glucose transport in metabolic tissues.
• Extracellular cell matrix-parenchymal cell signaling in metabolic tissues.
• Paracrine signaling/feedback loops.
• Role of inflammatory pathways in metabolic tissues.
• Pathobiology of type 1 diabetes.
• Genetics of obesity and diabetes; analysis of the functional consequences of specific genetic alterations concerning obesity and/or diabetes.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Cell Signaling and Molecular Endocrinology (CSME) in the investigation of pancreatic islet cells and adipocytes biology. Applications that seek to understand signal transduction and transcriptional regulation of hormones and growth factors on pancreatic islet cells or adipocytes function may be reviewed in CSME, while those that focus on genetics/epigenetic regulation and differentiation of pancreatic islet cells and adipocytes may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Pathophysiology of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases (POMD) in the investigation of insulin action, glucose homeostasis, metabolism, and diabetes. Applications that seek to understand neural regulatory pathways that modulate glucose regulation and metabolism may be reviewed in POMD, while those that focus on the downstream signaling pathways of glucose regulation may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Human Studies of Diabetes and Obesity (HSDO) in the investigation of metabolic regulation in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Applications focused on human interventions and clinical trials may be reviewed in HSDO, while those that use cells or animal models to understand biological regulation of obesity and diabetes may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease (NMHD) in the investigation of cellular mechanisms of macronutrient sensing and signaling in metabolic tissues. Applications focused on nutrient sensing and signaling in metabolic regulation broadly may be reviewed in NMHD, while those focused on macronutrient sensing and signaling related to energy metabolism by islet cells and adipocytes may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Pregnancy and Neonatology Study Section (PN) in the investigation of cellular mechanisms of maternal/fetal exposure on metabolic health. Applications focused on fetal development programs and health may be reviewed in PN, while those focused on maternal/fetal interface on islet cell plasticity, development and function in mother and offspring may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with Atherosclerosis and Vascular Inflammation (AVI) in the investigation of adipose tissue depot biogenesis and remodeling. Applications focused on understanding vascular cells, atherosclerosis, or vascular inflammation in the context of obesity may be reviewed in AVI, while those focused on the modulation of adipocyte differentiation and function by vascular cells may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with the Interdisciplinary Molecular Sciences & Training (IMST) IRG (CMT study section) and the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging, and Bioengineering (SBIB) IRG (SAT and BTSS study sections) in the investigation of tissue regeneration and biomedical engineering. Applications that focus on development of novel therapeutic or surgical-based interventions for maintenance or restoration of tissue function may be assigned to the IMST or SBIB IRG, while those focused on regeneration and tissue engineering of metabolic tissues (e.g., adipose, islet cells) may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with the Oncology IRGs (OBT and OTC) in the investigation of islet cell neoplasm. Applications involving basic and translational investigations that encompass cancer initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis may be reviewed in the Oncology 1 – Basic Translational (OBT) IRG. Applications involving translational and clinical investigations that encompass cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment may be reviewed in the Oncology 2 – Translational Clinical (OTC) IRG. Applications using islet cell neoplasms as experimental models to study molecular regulation of islet cell development and replication may be reviewed here.

There are shared interests with the Mechanisms of Autoimmunity (MAI) regarding immune modulation of adipocytes, islet cell function, and diabetes. Applications focused on understanding immune cell function and regulation related to type 1 diabetes onset may be reviewed in MAI. Applications focused on immune cell modulation of pancreatic islet cell function, molecular alterations of islet cells contributing to diabetes etiopathogenesis and pathobiology (e.g., type 1 diabetes) may be reviewed by BMDM.