Professor Jonathan Rocheleau, a researcher at the University Health Network (UHN) and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), has received a $100,000 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to explore a crucial aspect of insulin release—a process essential for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreatic islets that helps regulate blood sugar, particularly after meals. The body releases insulin in two phases: a rapid first-phase release followed by smaller, sustained waves. The loss of first-phase insulin release is an early marker of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, making it a key target for potential treatments.
Professor Rocheleau’s project, titled Linking the Dynamics of Islet Metabolism to First-Phase Insulin Release, will investigate how a critical molecule called NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) influences insulin secretion. NAD is essential for cellular energy production, but its levels can be depleted by inflammation—something commonly seen in diabetes.
By uncovering new ways to enhance insulin secretion, this study could lead to innovative treatments for diabetes, offering new hope to millions of people worldwide.