The HIRN 2026 Annual Investigator Meeting was held August 26-28, 2026, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
Author: Layla Rouse, MS
New NIH-funded Projects Joining the HIRN Network
We are pleased to welcome the following NIH-funded projects to the HIRN Networks. These projects will expand opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and scientific discovery across the consortium.
CMAD
- Beta Cell Impairment in T1D: Insights from Glucose Metabolism in Human Pancreas Slices
Edward Phelps*, PhD, University of Florida (R01 DK147991)
Clayton Mathews PhD, Co-Investigator, University of Florida
Craig Vander Kooi, PhD, Co-Investigator, University of Florida - Interrogating the Role of Environmental and Cellular Factors in Human T1D Pathophysiology using a Physiological, Isogenic 3D Platform
Cherie Stabler*, PhD, University of Florida (R56 DK144181)
Holger Russ, PhD, Co-Investigator, University of Florida - Isogenic Modeling of Immune-Beta Cell Interactions, Alterations in Beta Cell Phenotype, and Vulnerability to Cytotoxic Killing
Eddie James*, PhD, Benaroya Research Institute (R56 DK147805)
Adam Lacy-Hulbert, PhD, Co-Investigator, Benaroya Research Institute
Jia Zhu, PhD, Co-Investigator, University of Washington
HPAC
- Novel Technologies to Detect Disrupted RNA Processing Events in Diabetic Islets
Lori Sussel*, PhD, University of Colorado, Denver (DP1 DK147830)
* Denotes Contact PI
HIRN 2026 Trainee Scholarship Recipients
Congratulatations to the the following trainees who are recipients of the HIRN 2026 Scholarship issued at the HIRN 2026 Annual Investigator Meeting! Award recipients were selected solely based on evaluations by HIRN members on their presentations (oral or poster) at the recent annual meeting. Each award recipient can acknowledge this award on their CV.
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Neha Mohanty Oral Presentation Award Neha Mohanty is a 3rd year PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Katie Coate. Her research focuses on defining the mechanisms through which the α-cell-enriched transcription factor MAFB regulates adult human α-cell identity and function in health and disease. Because MAFB dysregulation has been suggested to be an early indicator of human α-cell dysfunction in diabetes pathogenesis, this work highlights MAFB and its downstream pathways as candidate therapeutic targets for restoring α-cell identity and glucagon secretion in Type 1 diabetes. |
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Paula Grace Nickles Poster Award Paula Grace Nickles is a 3rd year PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Katie Coate. Her research examines how ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2) and its very-long-chain sphingolipid products regulate adult human β-cell function. She has found that loss of CERS2 depletes these lipids and impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, with disrupted exocytosis and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Because sphingolipid dysregulation has been implicated in β-cell stress and failure during diabetes pathogenesis, these findings point to CERS2-derived sphingolipids as candidate targets for preserving β-cell function in Type 1 diabetes. |
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Ed (Enrique Eduardo) Sanchez-Castro Poster Award Ed Sanchez-Castro is a 5th year PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey R. Millman at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on understanding and controlling cell-fate decisions during human stem cell differentiation into pancreatic islets. He integrates large-scale single-cell and multiomic datasets to build predictive models of in vitro pancreatic development and identify transcriptional and epigenetic regulators that can be experimentally targeted to improve β-cell formation and reduce off-target cell populations. Ultimately, his work aims to improve the consistency, identity, and function of stem cell-derived islets for diabetes research and cell replacement therapies. |
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Yiqun Wang Poster Award Yiqun Wang is a 4th year PhD student in the Jie Liu Lab at the University of Michigan, pursuing dual training in Bioinformatics and Scientific Computing. His research focuses on AI, agentic AI, and multimodal AI for biomedical research. He has played a leading role in the PanKbase platform team, advancing AI-powered biomedical data infrastructure that integrates knowledge graphs, scientific literature, multimodal data, and intelligent agents. His work aims to make complex biomedical knowledge more accessible and actionable and to accelerate scientific discovery through next-generation AI. |
New HPAC Awards: HIRN Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium
Two new awards were announced for HIRN Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium (HPAC):
- Discovery of Pathways and Molecular Mediators of Early T1D Pathogenesis using Spatial Multi-Omics (U01 DK143488)
Wei-Jun Qian*, PhD, Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Rohit Kulkarni, PhD, MPI, Joslin Diabetes Center
Martha Campbell-Thompson, PhD, MPI, University of Florida
Clayton Mathews, PhD, Co-Investigator, University of Florida
Geremy Clair, PhD, Co-Investigator, Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Song Feng, PhD, Collaborator, Baylor College of Medicine - Beta Cell Death in early Type 1 Diabetes caused by Innate Immune Response to Inefficient RNA Editing (U01 DK143477)
Klaus Kaestner*, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Qin Lin, PhD, Investigator, University of Pennsylvania
Yuval Dor, PhD, Consultant, Hebrew University Medical School
Agnes Klochendler PhD, Consultant, Hebrew University Medical School
* Denotes Contact PI
New Investigator Gateway Award Recipients (2026)
Congratulations to the 2026 Recipients of the NIH NIDDK New Investigator Gateway Awards
Congratulations to the eleven investigators joining HIRN via the NIH NIDDK Gateway Award Initiative. This award was designed to ensure that a robust pipeline of talented new investigators will continue to embark on successful careers in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The recipients will be embedded within the HIRN scientific framework to provide unique opportunities for New and Early Stage Investigators to increase their understanding of key questions in the field, to network, and to establish unique and potentially long-lasting collaborations that will propel their careers forward. It is anticipated that the Gateway award will provide the support needed to enhance the success of future R01 submissions from New Investigators interested in pursuing careers in T1D research.
- David Alagpulinsa, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine (CBDS)
Genetic Dysregulation of mRNA Translation in T1D - Maigan Brusko, PhD, University of Florida (CBDS)
Assessment of Thymic Output in the Context of Genetics, Environmental Exposures, and Progression to T1D - Erica Cai, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine (CBDS)
Unraveling Counter-Regulatory Transcriptional Control by the ZBED Family in Beta Cell Stress and Immune Tolerance - Kathryn Coate, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CBDS)
CERS2-Dependent Sphingolipid Control of Human Beta-Cell Function and Resilience - Liora Katz, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (CBDS)
Targeting ChREBPbeta to Protect Beta-Cells from Metabolic and Inflammatory Stress in T1D - Angela Kruse, PhD, Ohio State University (HPAC)
Uncovering the Spatial Lipid-gene Relationships Underlying T1D using Multimodal Imaging - Qin Li, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (HPAC)
Investigating the Role of RNA Editing in T1D in Humans - Julia Panzer, PhD, City of Hope (HPAC)
Tissue Context Matters: How Exocrine Cells Regulate Islet Function in Human Pancreas - Farooq Syed, PhD, City of Hope (HPAC)
Three-Dimensional Spatial and Translational profiling of Stress Response Pathways in T1D - Ping Wang, PhD, Michigan State University (CBDS)
Targeted Nanotheranostics for Beta-Cell Protection in T1D - Jordan Wright, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (HPAC)
Spatial Profiling of Pancreatic N-Glycosylation in T1D
New Awards: HIRN Consortium on Beta Cell Death and Survival (CBDS)
Two new awards were announced for the HIRN Consortium on Beta Cell Death and Survival (CBDS) (RFA-DK-23-007):
- Defining Heterogeneity of Stress-induced Beta Cell Senescence Programs in Type 1 Diabetes (U01 DK143458)
Feyza Engin*, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sangeeta Dhawan, PhD, MPI, City of Hope
Matthew Wortham, PhD, MPI, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Julia Panzer, PhD, Co-Investigator, City of Hope - Targeting Renalase for Early Stage Type 1 Diabetes Treatment (U01 DK143496)
Peng Yi*, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Nese Kurt Yilmaz, PhD, MPI, UMass Chan Medical School
Accalia Fu, PhD, MPI, UMass Chan Medical School
Ali Akhbar, PhD, Co-Investigator, UMass Chan Medical School
Celia A Schiffer, PhD, Co-Investigator, UMass Chan Medical School
* Denotes Contact PI
HIRN 2025 Annual Investigator Meeting: December 2 – 4, 2025
The HIRN 2025 Virtual Annual Investigator Meeting was held virtually from December 2 – 4, 2025.
Associate Members (December 1, 2025)
In a commitment to advance HIRN’s mission, the selection process was guided by the following: prioritizing early-career investigators, proportionately augmenting membership across consortia, achieving synergy with consortium goals, and strengthening partner program relationships. In addition, qualifying grants with at least one year of remaining funding were prioritized, to allow time for meaningful participation in the consortia.
- Juan Alvarez, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (CMAD)
- Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, PhD, Vanderbilt University, Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium (HPAC)
- Richard Benninger, PhD, University of Colorado, Consortium on Beta Cell Death & Survival (CBDS)
- Erica Cai, PhD, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (CMAD)
- Katie Coate, PhD, Vanderbilt University, Consortium on Beta Cell Death & Survival (CBDS)
- Dario De Jesus, PhD, University of Chicago, Consortium on Beta Cell Death & Survival (CBDS)
- Sangeeta Dhawan, PhD, City of Hope, Consortium on Beta Cell Death & Survival (CBDS)
- Nikki Farnsworth, PhD, Colorado School of Mines, Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium (HPAC)
- Julia Panzer, PhD, City of Hope, Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium (HPAC)
- Alberto Pugliese, MD, City of Hope, Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (CMAD)
- Sarah Richardson, PhD, University of Exeter, Pancreas Knowledgebase Program (PanKbase)
- Melanie Shapiro, PhD, City of Hope, Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (CMAD)
- Farooq Syed, PhD, City of Hope, Consortium on Beta Cell Death & Survival (CBDS)
- Peter Thompson, PhD, University of Manitoba, Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Diabetes (CMAD)
The followin
HIRN: Data Scholars LINK Initiative
Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Ishahak and Dr. Liu Wang on their selection as HIRN Data Scholars Leveraging Multi-Modal Human Islet Research Network Knowledge (LINK) Award Recipients. This recognition highlights their exceptional contributions to advancing multi-modal human islet research and reflects the innovative spirit at the heart of the HIRN LINK initiative.
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Matthew Ishahak, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis Dr. Ishahak received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His research focuses on developing in vitro models of human diseases using engineered organoids and applying state-of-the-art sequencing technologies to investigate mechanisms of disease progression. |
Liu Wang, PhD,  Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Dr. Wang is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. His research focuses on creating novel models to study diabetes and metabolism and to identify therapeutic targets in metabolic diseases. Specifically, Dr. Wang studies the fundamental transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulation of beta cells that drives the pathogenesis of diabetes. |
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Project: “Inferring and Perturbing Gene Regulatory Networks During Diabetes Progression” Summary: Dr. Ishahak will be joining the Pancreas Knowledgebase Program (PanKbase). |
Project: “Multi-omics Integrative Analyses of Human Islets in Type 1 Diabetes” Summary: Dr. Wang will be joining the Consortium on Beta Cell Death and Survival (CBDS). |
Start Date: October 1, 2025
New Awards from RFA-DK-23-007: HIRN Consortium on Beta Cell Death and Survival (CBDS)
Six new awards were announced for the HIRN Consortium on Beta Cell Death and Survival (CBDS) (RFA-DK-23-007):
- Decoding the Cell-specific Impact of Epigenomic and Alternative Splicing Regulation during T1D Progression (U01 DK143498)
Shuibing Chen*, PhD, Weill Cornel Medical Medicine
Stephen Parker, PhD, University of Michigan - The Role of Granular Acidification in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes (U01 DK143495)
Thomas Delong*, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz - Interferon Signaling in the T1D Islet Microenvironment (U01 DK127786)
Raghu G Mirmira*, MD, PhD, University of Chicago
Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Ernesto Satoshi Nakayasu, PhD, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - Driving next generation UPR inhibitory kinase inhibitors for T1D (U01 DK143500)
Feroz Papa*, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Dustin Maly, PhD, University of Washington - Role of Pancreatic Elastase in Beta Cell Health, Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes (U01 DK143494)
Scott Oakes*, MD, University of Chicago
Rohit Kulkarni, MD, PHD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco - Beta Cell Death in Early Type 1 Diabetes Caused by Innate Immune Response to Inefficient RNA Editing (U01 DK143477)
Klaus Kaestner*, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
* Denotes Contact PI
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