UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence

03/06/2026

A newly published study has identified specific fragments of the insulin protein that are recognized by immune cells involved in the autoimmune attack that causes type 1 diabetes. The research, published in The Journal of Immunology, provides new insight into how the immune system identifies insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

Understanding exactly which pieces of insulin are recognized by immune cells may help researchers better understand how the disease begins and how the immune attack might one day be stopped.

A major driver of the autoimmune destruction of beta cells is a group of immune cells called CD8⁺ T cells, often referred to as “killer” T cells. These cells recognize small protein fragments displayed on the surface of cells by molecules known as Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). Most previous research in type 1 diabetes has focused on HLA-A and HLA-B. This study, led by Teresa DiLorenzo, PhD, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, examined the role of another member of this family, HLA-C, specifically the variant HLA-C*03:04, which is relatively common in people with type 1 diabetes, but little is known about its contribution to the attack on insulin-producing beta cells.

To investigate this, a mouse model was engineered to express the human HLA-C*03:04 molecule and screened fragments of the insulin protein to determine which ones were recognized by immune cells infiltrating the pancreatic islets. The team identified two short fragments from the A-chain of insulin that were recognized by T cells in the mice. When the laboratory of Sally Kent, PhD, at UMass Chan Medical School, examined immune cells isolated from the pancreatic islets of people with type 1 diabetes, they found that those human T cells also responded to the same insulin fragments.

The findings suggest that HLA-C–restricted T cells may play a role in the autoimmune process that leads to . By identifying specific insulin fragments involved in the immune response, the study could help researchers better understand how beta cells become targets of immune attack.

Pictured, Anthony Manganaro, Research Tech, Kent lab UMass Chan Medical School

03/03/2026

This video highlights the research of Diabetes Center of Excellence Co-Director Michael Brehm, PhD, and his personal connection to the mission.

Learn how his team investigates human cells & tissues to better understand the immune system and its role in .

UMass Chan Medical School

02/27/2026

In a year when federal research funding is under increasing pressure, four scientists conducting diabetes research at UMass Chan Medical School are named among the top 100 faculty nationwide for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in Anatomy/Cell Biology departments, according to the latest rankings released by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.

Especially in today’s climate, NIH support is among the most competitive and prestigious biomedical research funding in the United States. NIH grants are awarded through rigorous peer review and serve as a national benchmark for scientific excellence. These federal dollars play a critical role in training the next generation of scientists, advancing translational discoveries, promoting collaboration, and attracting additional philanthropic investment — accelerating breakthroughs in diabetes and related metabolic diseases.

Among the top-ranked U.S. investigators:

Michael Brehm, PhD, co-director of the UMass Chan Diabetes Center of Excellence, who leads research focused on human immune responses using novel models of to study how immune cells interact with human tissues, improving understanding of autoimmune pathways and potential therapeutic strategies.

Jessica Spinelli, PhD, is investigating how cells adapt energy production under stress, such as low oxygen, and how these pathways may be leveraged to protect insulin-producing beta cells after transplantation or in other therapeutic settings.

Silvia Corvera, MD, is studying adipose (fat) tissue biology and its role in . Her research has revealed how specific proteins and cell types within fat influence energy balance, insulin sensitivity, and the potential for cell-based therapies for and .

Jason Kim, PhD, conducts research focusing on small molecules and metabolic pathways that can improve glucose metabolism and counteract obesity-driven diabetes, uncovering mechanisms that may inform new therapeutic approaches.

Being ranked among the top NIH-funded faculty nationally reflects the scientific community’s confidence in these investigators and the strength of diabetes research at UMass Chan. Sustained NIH support enables cutting-edge discovery that advances new insights, therapies, and hope for individuals living with diabetes.

02/27/2026

02/23/2026

Congratulations to Doug Melton, PhD, who is recognized on the TIME 100 Health 2026 list. His scientific journey became deeply personal when his children, Sam and Emma, were diagnosed with , and the focus of his laboratory was redirected toward a cure for T1D. Over more than two decades at Medical School, where he co-founded and led the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Dr. Melton and his team developed and refined a method to create functional, insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells from human stem cells (SC-islets). During those years, SC-islets were tested in novel humanized mouse models at UMass Chan Medical School to evaluate their function and immune interactions, forging a collaboration between the institutions that continues today.

Dr. Melton co-founded Semma Therapeutics, focused on translating this work for clinical applications, and the company was acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2019. Dr. Melton left Harvard in 2022 to join Vertex’s effort to bring SC-islets to the clinic. Last year, the first clinical trial by Vertex reported that of 12 people with type 1 diabetes who received SC-islets, 10 no longer required insulin one year after a single treatment, and the remaining two required substantially lower doses. Vertex now plans to continue advancing the therapy to help the nearly 10 million people worldwide living with .

Before joining Vertex, Dr. Melton served as director of the Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Center of Excellence in New England, a collaboration that included scientists from Harvard Medical School, UMass Chan Medical School, and The Jackson Laboratory. The Center’s objective was to genetically modify SC-islets to become effectively invisible to the immune system when transplanted into a person with type 1 diabetes, enabling a therapeutic cure without lifelong immunosuppression. Upon stepping down, Dr. Melton handed the reins to Dr. David Harlan, MD, co-director of the UMass Chan Diabetes Center of Excellence, who has since expanded the New England Center to include 15 scientists across five institutions, with a mission to identify and modify genetic targets that increase the resilience of SC-islets in vivo, adding drug, metabolic, and “cloaking” strategies designed to protect the cells from immune attack and other physiologic stressors.
TIME is recognizing Dr. Melton’s accomplishment that has changed the trajectory of type 1 diabetes research. His work established that SC-islets can restore insulin production in people. The collaborative efforts he started are now focused on ensuring those cells can survive, function, and remain safe for the long term without the need for lifelong immunosuppressants.

02/19/2026

How does inflammation affect blood sugar control? Asha Daryanani, a third-year Ph.D. student at UMass Chan Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and member of the Jason Kim laboratory, shared her research exploring how inflammation contributes to type 2 diabetes & fatty liver disease.

Her work focuses on immune cells called macrophages — white blood cells that normally help protect the body — and a signaling protein they release called interleukin-12 (IL-12). While IL-12 plays an important role in immune defense, Asha’s preliminary findings suggest that in obesity, higher levels of IL-12 in the liver may interfere with insulin’s ability to regulate blood sugar.

Her studies indicate that modifying inflammatory signaling in immune cells can protect against obesity-related insulin resistance in the liver.

This growing area of research highlights the idea that & are not just metabolic conditions — they are also inflammatory diseases.

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02/17/2026

02/16/2026

Mindful eating isn’t just about what you eat but how you eat — and everyone can benefit from slowing down, paying attention, and tuning into hunger and fullness signals. According to this UMass Memorial Health blog, it can help with digestion, reduced stress, support weight management, and improve blood sugar control as you eat more attentively and portion sizes become mindful. For people living with , research shows mindful eating practices are linked to healthier dietary choices and steadier glycemic levels.

Mindful eating encourages us to slow down, focus on the act of eating and build healthier habits by paying attention to how we eat rather than what we eat.

02/11/2026

In a newly published study, John Mordes, MD, and colleagues examined why some children develop persistent islet autoimmunity—a key early immune warning sign that can precede type 1 diabetes (T1D). Persistent islet autoimmunity refers to the repeated detection of diabetes-related autoantibodies over time, suggesting the immune system is consistently targeting insulin-producing beta cells.

Using long-term data from the international TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young) study, the researchers evaluated how both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this early stage of disease development. Their findings reinforced the central role of immune-related genetics—especially HLA genes—in shaping risk, while also showing that non-genetic influences matter and may differ depending on which autoantibody appears first. By clarifying what drives these early immune changes, the work strengthens efforts to identify children at the highest risk earlier in life and supports prevention strategies that intervene before symptoms begin.

This study, published in eLife, reflects Dr. Mordes’ decades of research focused on understanding how autoimmunity progresses to T1D. Since the late 1970s, his work has used BB rats and related rat models to investigate the immune mechanisms that influence disease development, including the role of specific T-cell pathways and immune regulation.

The BB rat has been a valuable research tool because it develops spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, allowing scientists to study the immune attack on beta cells from its earliest stages. At UMass Chan, this research legacy has been shaped by decades of leadership in rat models of autoimmune diabetes, including contributions from Aldo Rossini, MD, Dale Greiner, PhD, and Dr. Mordes.

Today, Jennifer Wang, MD, continues UMass Chan Medical School’s long tradition of using rat models to study . While the BB rat helped define what autoimmune diabetes looks like in a living system, Dr. Wang’s lab uses newer, genetically defined rat models to pinpoint the immune pathways that drive the process—particularly early innate immune and antiviral signaling—using today’s genetic and immune-profiling tools to identify prevention-relevant targets.

02/03/2026

Why do wounds heal more slowly as we age or in people with ? Dr. Louis Messina was awarded National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to study the biological reasons behind impaired wound healing. Building on decades of research, his lab will examine how aging and diabetes alter bone marrow stem cells and immune function, with the goal of identifying new targets to improve healing and reduce infections & amputations.

Wound Healing

02/02/2026

The Diabetes Center of Excellence at UMass Chan Medical School named Sambra Redick, PhD, and René Maehr, PhD, as co-directors of the Pappas Stem Cell Differentiation Core (Pappas SCDC).

Founded in 2022 under the leadership of Dr. Redick, the Pappas SCDC has grown into a five-member scientific team dedicated to generating and refining stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets). These cells now support a wide range of collaborative research efforts aimed at advancing cell-based therapies for Type 1 diabetes (T1D). This work supports the Breakthrough T1D Barbara Dewey Cammett Center of Excellence in New England, a multi-institution collaboration led by Dr. Harlan. Together, researchers are testing engineered SC-islets in our novel “humanized” models to evaluate their function and immune compatibility, advancing toward durable cell-replacement therapies.

Dr. Maehr brings expertise in stem cell biology, immunology, and gene editing. An Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine who joined the DCOE in 2011, Dr. Maehr has studied how the immune system is trained—particularly the role of the thymus—and how this process can be harnessed to prevent immune rejection. As co-director of the Pappas SCDC, Dr. Maehr will provide leadership in advanced stem cell and gene editing technologies, overseeing gene editing efforts that support investigators across collaborative T1D research programs.

Dr. Redick, a senior research scientist in the laboratory of David Harlan, MD, has led the development of stem cell-derived islets at the DCOE for the past three years. As co-director, she will continue to oversee SC-islet production, quality control, and ongoing improvements to differentiation methods that ensure consistency and reliability for research use.

Together, Drs. Redick and Maehr provide complementary leadership that strengthens the Pappas SCDC’s role as a cornerstone of diabetes research at UMass Chan. Under their direction, the core is accelerating progress toward immune-compatible, stem cell–based therapies that could transform care for people living with Type 1 diabetes.

01/27/2026

We’re proud to recognize Elizabeth Lartey, BSN, RN, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student in the UMass Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing (Class of ’27), for her leadership and impact addressing diabetes and hypertension in underserved Ghanaian communities in Worcester and rural Ghana.

Lizzy was recognized by Dean Flotte for a project that provides free, self-funded health screenings paired with culturally responsive education. By partnering with local churches and community leaders, her work brings preventive care and trusted health information directly to communities facing barriers to access—strengthening early detection, health literacy, and trust.

A medical-surgical nurse at UMass Memorial, she is also the founder of Heritage Scrubs, a fashion line she launched featuring African-inspired designs. What began as custom scrubs she wore to work quickly grew after patients and colleagues took notice—reflecting her belief that culturally relevant care can deepen patient connection.

Originally from Ghana, Elizabeth immigrated to Worcester in 2012 and has balanced nursing school, work, marriage, and raising a family along the way. She is a proud mother of four. Since 2018, she has organized free health education and screenings through churches and community groups in both Worcester and Ghana and continues to mentor nursing students and new nurses.

👏 Congratulations, Lizzy, on this well-deserved recognition!

Photo credit: Hallie Leo