Project #84: Microbial architects: How yeast cell wall components activate islet resident macrophages to drive beta-cell expansion
This grant funds research on how yeast cell wall components activate islet macrophages to stimulate beta-cell growth, aiming to advance type 1 diabetes therapies.
Funder: Diabetes Research Connection
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $75,000 per project; typically supports single-year, early-stage research.
Summary: Supports early-career research exploring how yeast cell wall components activate islet macrophages to promote beta-cell expansion for type 1 diabetes therapies.
Key Information: This opportunity is forecasted; deadlines and application details are subject to change.
Description
This grant opportunity, offered through the Diabetes Research Connection (DRC), supports innovative, early-career research that investigates the role of yeast cell wall components in activating islet resident macrophages to drive beta-cell expansion—a process critical for insulin production and type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. The project builds on findings that individuals with T1D often have a less diverse microbiome and seeks to understand how the yeast species Candida dubliniensis can stimulate beta-cell growth and improve glucose regulation in mouse models. The goal is to identify the unique characteristics and mechanisms by which this yeast may offer preventative or therapeutic benefits for T1D.
