Home Department: Bioengineering
Mentor: Justin Annes (Medicine - Endocrinology)

“Optimization of Beta-Cell-Selective Accumulation and Bio-Activity of Zinc-Dependent Beta-Vell-Targeted Compounds”

Development of improved diabetes medications is stymied by a dearth of safe therapeutic targets. On-target but off-tissue drug effects are slowing progress across multiple therapeutic domains, including β-cell regeneration, β-cell preservation, and immune-protection. In principle, therapeutically stimulating β-cell regeneration could be used to restore endogenous insulin production capacity, but non-selective replication-promoting activity is preventing clinical development. To address this challenge, Brian will help develop a β-cell-targeted drug delivery module based upon the uniquely high zinc content of β-cells. Brian will test structurally diverse zinc-dependent β-cell-targeted compounds to optimize β-cell-selective accumulation (LC-MS/MS) and bio-activity (target (DYRK1A) inhibition and β-cell replication).