What We Do
The immune system is known to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, and an increasing body of evidence suggests it plays a role in type 2 diabetes, as well.
Research in the Templin Lab focuses on understanding the relationship between islet immune responses and beta cell dysfunction and death in the setting of both major forms of diabetes. Emphasis is placed on the concept that beta cell intrinsic properties are drivers of islet inflammation and immune responses, and together these promote a system of beta cell dysfunction and loss that lead to diabetes.
The Templin Lab investigates underappreciated mechanisms of inflammatory, lytic beta cell death and whether such forms of death can drive islet inflammation and further promote beta cell loss in diabetes. The Templin Lab also interrogates molecular mechanisms that underlie amyloid-induced islet inflammation and beta cell loss in type 2 diabetes.
These lines of research utilize in vitro models of beta cell death and in vivo models of islet amyloid formation, islet inflammation and beta cell loss to examine whether beta cells themselves promote islet inflammation in diabetes. Through this work, the Templin Lab aims to advance our understanding of beta cell loss in diabetes and, ultimately, improve the health of individuals afflicted with this disease.