Translating islet biology into diabetes breakthroughs
The Coate Lab investigates how adult pancreatic islet β- and α-cells preserve their specialized identity and hormone secretion – and why these defenses collapse in diabetes. We utilize a variety of state-of-the-art approaches in primary human islets, including CRISPR- and RNAi-edited “pseudoislets,” dynamic secretion assays, single-cell and bulk multi-omics, advanced imaging, and in-vivo xenografts to chart the transcription factor circuits and lipid signaling pathways disrupted earliest by metabolic stress. Our emphasis on human-focused methodologies ensures our findings are directly translatable and will inform precision therapies that safeguard functional β-cell mass and improve outcomes for adults with diabetes.
We foster an interactive lab culture built on scientific curiosity, personal and professional integrity, excellence, and lifelong learning. If you’d like to join our dynamic team, please contact Dr. Coate at kathryn.coate@vanderbilt.edu.