Biomedical Graduate Studies

Description of Research Expertise

Gene & chromatin regulation
Human islet development
Regenerative Biology

Keywords: diabetes, regenerative biology, cell maturation, lineage development, islets, stem cell-derived organoids, circadian clock, single-cell omics, gene regulation, epigenetics, non-coding RNA

Research Description
Our laboratory uses human stem cell-derived pancreatic islet organoids and mice as model systems to study islet development, physiology, and pathology, and to develop replacement therapies for insulin-dependent diabetes. We focus on the interplay between circadian rhythms, metabolism, and islet cell maturation. Our work addresses three fundamental questions:
1. How do cells and tissues become functionally specialized?
2. How does organ-level physiology entrain to circadian rhythms?
3. How do circadian disturbances lead to organ and systemic metabolic dysfunction?
To this end, we employ single-cell transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic methods and genetic, nanoelectronics-based approaches to study and control islet cell fate. We are especially interested in advancing replacement therapies for insulin-dependent diabetes, and harnessing control over the function and applications of any human organoid.

Rotation Projects
1. Gene, chromatin, and translation circuits controlling Beta-cell maturity
2. Organoid maturation by circadian feeding-fasting entrainment
3. Human islet organoids as diabetes replacement therapy
4. Charting human islet maturation via combined soft nanoelectronics and single-cell spatial transcriptomics
5. Design principles governing islet function and connectivity