Islet Biology & Metabolism Group
-
A/Professor
Sof Andrikopoulos
Research Overview
Type 2 diabetes is characterised by hyperglycaemia which is caused by a defect in insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. It is evident that the defect in insulin secretion is necessary for hyperglycaemia to ensue in diabetes. Furthermore, it is clear that obesity/high energy intake is closely associated with the increased prevalence of diabetes, contributing to both insulin resistance and reduced insulin secretion. The focus of our group is to understand genetic and biochemical mechanisms that contribute to reduced insulin secretion by using pre-clinical models including transgenic and knockout mice with islet beta cell dysfunction.
Our lab also investigates the genetic, epigenetic and biochemical mechanisms that are involved in body weight regulation through the use of various rodent models of obesity. This will allow us to delineate why obesity occurs and be able to provide better therapeutic targets to curb this ever growing epidemic.
Staff
- Dr Barbara Fam, Senior Research Fellow – Project Leader
- Dr Evelyn Marin, Research Officer
- Mr Yanni Arsenakis, Technical Assistant
- Ms Viktoria Ntouma, PhD student
- Mr Christian Haralambous, PhD student
Funding
NHMRC Project Grant APP1125379: A novel role for Alzheimer tau protein in insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes (2017-2020) – A/Prof Sof Andrikopoulos
Diabetes Australia Research Trust (General Grant): Why do some people gain weight and others don't? Exploring the role of the gut specific G-protein coupled receptors in obesity development and resistance (2019). – Dr Barbara Fam
Research Opportunities
This research project is available to PhD, Honours students to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.