Diabetes Research

The Considine lab, led by Robert Considine, PhD, is focused on understanding the contribution of obesity to the development of diabetes and its complications. Current studies focus on effects of bariatric surgery to alter gut hormone release and improve glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. In collaboration with David Kareken, PhD in Neurology, the Considine lab is utilizing neuroimaging techniques to understand the reward system response to food cues in human subjects. Specifically, the lab is recruiting subjects that will undergo bariatric surgery to assess how the central neural processing of sweet taste differs after surgery.

The Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) study aims to discover and define rare and atypical forms of diabetes. These refined diagnoses will be used by diabetes researchers, physicians, and patients to accurately explain their disease. The study entails genetic and clinical testing for enrolled participants. 

For more information, please contact study coordinator Kelly Moors at kmoors@iupui.edu.

Swapnil Khare, MD, is engaged in several clinical studies to improve care in patients with cystic fibrosis. Her study is looking into patient barriers to getting screening oral glucose tolerance tests in patients with cystic fibrosis. She is also studying the effect of highly effective modular therapy for cystic fibrosis on nutrition, weight and obesity, as well as cystic fibrosis related diabetes and bone health. She is participating in a national study looking at the accuracy of continuous glucose monitors in pregnant patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cary Mariash, MD, has been engaged in both basic science research on thyroid hormone action and multiple clinical research studies for over 40 years. While he no longer has a basic science laboratory, he continues to participate in clinic research studies. He currently participates in several industry related studies on a new drug for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome and he is the site principal investigator at Indiana University for the NIH sponsored Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes (GRADE) study. Based on his previous basic science work he is a consultant with the University of Minnesota pulmonary group on the intratracheal installation of T3 for the treatment of severe Covid-19 pneumonia.

The Piganelli lab's primary focus is on autoimmune diseases, particularly type 1 diabetes (T1D). They study the role of oxidative stress and free radicals in inflammation and their impact on immune responses, both in humans and animal models. Their research has shown that regulating redox dependent signaling can control aberrant immune responses and protect organs for transplantation. They have also explored the use of small molecule manganese porphyrins (MnP, catalytic antioxidants) to modulate immune function in T1D.

Additionally, the lab investigates strategies for preventing T1D through "negative vaccination," using specific antigens along with agents that disrupt immune cell metabolic switch to induce self-tolerance and protect beta cells. They target metabolic pathways to suppress autoimmune responses in T1D.

The lab also explores endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) in beta cells and its role in generating post translationally modified (PTM) antigens or neo-epitopes that facilitate the break in self-tolerance in autoimmune mediated type 1 diabetes. The lab also assess the role of inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) related to type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, the lab is committed to mentoring and teaching the next generation of scientists, emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing and supporting underrepresented groups in research.

Dr. Shah's research focuses on a) investigation of continuous glucose monitoring, and automated insulin delivery systems for diabetes management, b) developing glucose monitoring based predicted tools to define various stages of type 1 diabetes and predicting progression to clinical diabetes and c) understanding mechanisms of bone fragility in older adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes. Dr. Shah is a clinical trialist with over a decade of experience in doing clinical trials of devices and therapeutics in the field of diabetes. He has been involved with more than 35 clinical research projects over the last 10 years. He was Principal Investigator on many landmark studies such as Dexcom G6, Omniopod 5, iLet and ApCamFx, that led to FDA approval of these systems for diabetes management. Dr. Shah is also invested in training early career investigators in diabetes research and promoting diversity in clinical research. 

Dr. Templin’s research focuses on understanding the relationship between islet immune responses and beta cell dysfunction and death in the setting of both major forms of diabetes. Emphasis is placed on the concept that beta cell intrinsic properties are drivers of islet inflammation and immune responses, and together these promote a system of beta cell dysfunction and loss leading to diabetes. The Templin Lab investigates underappreciated mechanisms of inflammatory, lytic beta cell death and whether such forms of death can drive islet inflammation and further promote beta cell loss in diabetes. The Templin Lab also interrogates molecular mechanisms that underly amyloid-induced islet inflammation and beta cell loss in type 2 diabetes. These lines of research utilize in vitro models of beta cell death and in vivo models of islet amyloid formation, islet inflammation and beta cell loss to examine whether beta cells themselves promote islet inflammation in diabetes. Through this work, the Templin Lab aims to advance our understanding of beta cell loss in diabetes and improve the health of individuals afflicted with diabetes.