# Cell Biology Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2023 · $295,355

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – CELL BIOLOGY CORE
Cell Biology has been a component of the DRTC since its inception in 1977. It has taken many forms over the
past 40 years, most recently focusing on studies of pancreatic islets and beta cells. However, in recent years
and, continuing in this application, the Cell Biology Core has been expanded to also include studies of
adipocytes, hepatocytes, and innate and adaptive immune cells from diabetic and non-diabetic humans and
mice. The Core provides a broad range of services in cell-based systems to elucidate the roles of islet endocrine
cells, adipocytes, hepatocytes and immune cells in health and disease with an emphasis of studies using primary
cells from humans and mice. In addition, with this renewal, the Core will provide sophisticated models in zebrafish
to study in vivo and in real time the effect of the diabetogenic environment (insulin resistance, insulin deficiency)
on metabolically active cells, including islets, hepatocytes, kidney cells, and innate immune cells. The Core
provides advice on study design, methods, and data interpretation. Because many of the techniques are new to
investigators, the Core also provides direct hands-on support and training to ensure the successful and timely
completion of experiments. This Core is centered at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at
Chicago. The two groups meet regularly and have developed standard operating procedures to ensure that
Users receive quality support for their studies. The Core also has an ongoing commitment to training and has
trained investigators, fellows, students and research technicians in the procedures of the Core. The Cell Biology
Core is an integral part of the DRTC, and thus synergizes with the Physiology Core by facilitating diabetes-based
research on primary cells and tissues from mice and humans. Moreover, it allows discoveries made in the
Genetics and Genomics Core to be tested in a biological context. The Aims of the Core are:
 1. To provide pancreatic islets, adipocytes, hepatocytes, and innate and adaptive immune cells (e.g.
macrophages, neutrophils, T-cells) from normal and diabetic humans, mice, and zebrafish, as well as insulinoma,
pre-adipocyte, and iPSC (from non-diabetic patients and patients with monogenic forms of diabetes) cell lines.
 2. To continuously improve new experimental approaches (e.g. use of cells derived from iPSCs) that can
provide better physiological and pathophysiological context for discovery.
 3. To actively promote interaction and collaboration among DRTC members and attract outside
investigators to the field of diabetes research by highlighting the advantages of diabetes-relevant experimental
systems for studies of cross-cutting themes and questions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10588531
- **Project number:** 2P30DK020595-46
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew J Brady
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $295,355
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1996-12-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10588531

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10588531, Cell Biology Core (2P30DK020595-46). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10588531. Licensed CC0.

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