Objective Validation of an in vivo translational medicine approach for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes complications To develop new drugs for treatment of diabetes, there is an immediate need for an in vivo approach allowing the assessment of β-cell function and survival in the living organism non-invasively, longitudinally and at single-cell resolution. We therefore transplant pancreatic islets into the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) of mice for functional microscopic imaging. In the ACE islets become vascularized and innervated, and various aspects of β-cell function and survival can be readily imaged. Functional studies demonstrate that engrafted islets in the eye serve as representative reporters of endogenous islets in the pancreas of the same animal. We have extensively in vitro tested fluorescent biosensors that reflect key-events in β-cell function and survival. Following intraocular transplantation of human islets expressing biosensors in their β-cells into healthy or diabetic mice, they will allow non-invasive, longitudinal in vivo monitoring of 1) Ca2+ handling, 2) functional β-cell mass, 3) apoptosis and 4) proliferation. Based on the in vitro tested biosensors, the major objective is to establish a robust pharma-industry in vivo platform for validating newly developed diabetes treatment lead-compounds in early drug development. This screening service shall be performed on a commercial basis. The milestone of this proposal, to be achieved within 18 months, is the validation of the in vivo platform for testing the effects of new potential diabetes medicines on human β-cell function and survival in normal and diabetic mice. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoveryengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensorsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-PoC-2016 - ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 Call for proposal ERC-2016-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Host institution KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET Net EU contribution € 149 365,00 Address Nobels Vag 5 17177 Stockholm Sweden See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 149 365,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET Sweden Net EU contribution € 149 365,00 Address Nobels Vag 5 17177 Stockholm See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 149 365,00
