The research undertaken by the superb team of innovative and collaborative investigators of the JDRF Northern California Center of Excellence (CoE) is divided into two main thematic projects. One of the two projects will define changes in cell types, cell states and immune cells in pancreas and associated immune tissues in T1D patients and healthy individuals. The intent is to learn about how cell communicate and how this communication can be perturbed to block beta cell destruction.
The second project is focused on modulating immune cell function in the setting of islet cell replacement therapy. By combining several existing and tried approaches for immune cell modulation, the team aims to optimize current islet replacement procedures. Scientists will investigate the use of improved pre-clinical models to advance translational efforts that focus on suppressing T1D autoimmunity as well as promoting allo-tolerance for islet replacement.