T32 Trainees

Elevating the efficacy of Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) by improving beta cell viability and function through surface conjugation of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) to the pancreatic islet capsule

Mentors: Cherie Stabler, PhD and Allison Bayer, PhD
Co-mentor: Holger Russ, PhD

Leveraging 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, nano-scale microCT, and microelectrodes to develop biometric pancreatic vascular-islet environments that recapitulate the natural human cytoarchitecture.

Mentors: Allison Andrews, PhD, Servio Ramirez, PhD
Co-mentors: Allison Andrews, Phd, and Walter Murfee, PhD

Generating sBCs with a mature functional β-cell phenotype as a model system to investigate different aspects of human β-cell biology, including how maturity relates to immunogencity.

Mentor: Holger Russ, PhD
Co-mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD

Determining the mechanism of secretion of GABA from pancreatic beta cells while also investigating the changes that occur in the GAD65/GABA system as T1D pathogenesis progresses.

Mentor: Ed Phelps, PhD
Co-mentor: Holger Russ, PhD

Engineering an autogenic microfluidic device for in vitro culture utilizing stem cell derived beta cells, human endothelial cells, and CD8+ T cells to create a controlled platform for analyzing T cell trafficking, migration, and killing in T1D.


Mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD
Co-mentor: Holger Russ, PhD

Immune changes with ATG+GCSF therapy and Its impacts on C-peptide preservation in T1D

Mentor: Clayton Mathews, PhD
Co-mentors: Michael Haller, MD, and Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD

A dual-sized microparticle system for inducing immune tolerance in autoimmunity

Mentor: Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD
Co-mentor: Todd Brusko, PhD

Insulin-like growth factors as biomarkers with immunological impacts on the development of T1D

Mentors: Mark Atkinson, PhD and Todd Brusko, PhD

Engineering cerium oxide nanoparticle coatings for antioxidant/anti-inflammatory protection of biomaterials and tissue grafts

Mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD
Co-Mentor: Clayton Mathews, PhD

Advancing Therapies that Target the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway for Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmunity

Mentor: Edward Phelps, PhD
Co-Mentor: Todd Brusko, PhD

PTPN22 regulates induced MHC-II expression in macrophages

Mentors: Mark Wallet, PhD and Clayton Mathews, PhD

Identification of Adaptive Immune Signatures and Dysregulated Pathways in Type 1 Diabetes

Mentors: Todd Brusko, PhD
Co-mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD

Investigating type 1 diabetes pathogenesis with the live pancreas tissue slice platform

Mentors: Mark Atkinson, PhD, Clayton Mathews, PhD
Co-mentor: Edward Phelps, PhD

Treatment of cardiometabolic dysfunction using targeted parasympathetic neuromodulation

Mentor: Kevin Otto, PhD
Co-Mentor: Todd Brusko, PhD

A tolerogenic dual microparticle system for treatment of multiple sclerosis

Mentor: Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD
Co-mentor: Dorina Avram, PhD

Engineering a dynamic three-dimensional in vitro platform for the investigation of human Type 1 Diabetes immunopathogenesis

Mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD
Co-mentor: Clayton Mathews, PhD

Disease metabolism, using imaging and metabolic techniques to study glioblastoma and pancreatic islet function in the context of cancer and Type 1 Diabetes.

Mentor: Matthew Merritt, PhD
Co-mentor: Clayton Mathews, PhD

Using AI and machine learning to investigate the link between Type 1 Diabetes and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Mentor: Ruogu Fang, PhD

Angiogenic and inflammatory responses of endothelial cells and immune cells such as macrophages to unique environments and stimuli including utilizing simulated microgravity as a potentially pro-angiogenic culture environment, drug responses for cardiovascular applications, as well as sex-based differences studies

Mentor: Josephine Allen, PhD
Co-mentor: Mei He, PhD

Engineering a multi-therapeutic, 3D-printed scaffold to improve pancreatic islet transplantation by enhancing vascularization, engraftment, and immunoprotection for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.

Mentor: Cherie Stabler, PhD
Co-mentor: Allison Bayer, PhD

Characterizing the follicular helper T-cell (Tfh) response in the secondary lymphatic tissue of human donors across the natural progression of T1D.

Mentor: Todd Brusko, PhD and Cherie Stabler, PhD

Exploring the mechanisms of anti-PD-1-induced-T1D in various mouse models to elucidate how different genetic predispositions contribute to T1D onset during checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Mentor: Clive Wasserfall, PhD
Co-mentor: Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD

Developing a prototype of an innovative exposure and response prevention treatment for fear of hypoglycemia that is based in virtual reality environments.

Mentor: Kimberly Driscoll, PhD and Laura Jacobsen, MD