BBDC Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 4 -- June 2006FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
pilot grants for innovative activities related to
diabetes education, management, and care
The Banting and Best Diabetes Centre will provide up to $20,000 per
applicant for pilot projects which are one to two years in length.
This program is intended to support
new research initiatives in the following general areas:
i. Diabetes care delivery
ii. Evaluation of diabetes education programs
iii. Practical issues in diabetes management
This program is designed to encourage new academic research activities that
would not usually be supported by traditional granting processes.
Specifically, we invite applications from frontline diabetes health care
professionals working in University of Toronto affiliated institutions or
working with University of Toronto faculty. To be eligible to apply,
the principal applicant and all co-applicants must be full-time
health care professionals working at a University of Toronto-affiliated
institution or with University of Toronto faculty. Eligible applicants
include: Full-time physicians; nurses; dietitians; pharmacists and others on
the front line of diabetes care. Full-time
staff at both fully and partially affiliated University of Toronto
institutions are eligible to apply. Interested
individuals are asked to submit a one-page letter of intent and estimated
budget to the BBDC by 3 p.m., Tuesday, September 26, 2006.
For complete award
details and application instructions, please see the FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
section of the BBDC’s website at
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/index.htm.
Upcoming Funding
Opportunities
The following funding programs will be announced and
information posted on our website by early July:
- Trainee Travel
Awards - Period 1 (for travel occurring between July 1 and December 31, 2006).
Application deadline October 2006.
-
AWARD RESULTS*
annual trainee
awards
The
following are this year’s prize winners:
|
Applicant |
Supervisor |
Title of Abstract |
|
1st Prize: Ilana Talior |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Insulin-dependent interaction of GLUT-4 with α-actinin4 in muscle
cells and significance of this interaction for GLUT4 traffic |
|
2nd Prize: Robert Wallis |
Dr. Philippe
Poussier |
Refinement of a
novel susceptibility locus for type 1 diabetes to 20.3 Mb of rat
chromosome 8, using the BBDP/Wor rat model |
|
3rd Prize (tied): Feihan Dai |
Dr. Michael
Wheeler |
A Member of a
Neuronal Ca2+-Sensor Protein Visinin-like Protein-1
(VILIP-1) is Expressed in Pancreatic β Cells and Regulates Insulin
Secretion and Insulin Biosynthesis |
|
3rd Prize (tied): Armen
Gyulkhandanyan |
Dr. Michael
Wheeler |
Investigation
of Zn2+-transporting pathways in pancreatic β-cells. |
|
3rd Prize (tied): Gareth Lim |
Dr. Patricia
Brubaker |
The Effect of
Insulin Resistance on Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Secretion in
Mouse Enteroendocrine L Cells |
|
3rd Prize (tied): Edward Park |
Dr. Adria
Giacca |
Resveratrol
Prevents Free Fatty Acid (FFA)-Induced Peripheral Insulin Resistance
in Parallel with Prevention of FFA-Induced Increase in Serine (307)
Phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 in Skeletal Muscle |
charles hollenberg summer
studentships
The
following have been offered a 2006 Charles Hollenberg Summer Studentship:
|
Applicant |
Supervisor |
Title of Research |
|
Alice Chan |
Dr. George
Fantus |
Cell Signaling
in Diabetic Nephropathy:
Investigation of PKC Isoforms in High Glucose-Mediated Activation of
Src Kinase in Glomerular Mesangial Cells |
|
Alex Won-Pang
Cheng |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Visualizing the
insulin-sensitive GLUT4 vesicle arriving at the plasma membrane |
|
Diana Choi |
Dr. Minna Woo |
Mechanisms of
beta cell apoptosis in diabetes models. |
|
Nina Flora |
Dr. Patricia
Brubaker |
Insulin
resistance impairs secretion of the insulinotropic hornome,
glucagon-like peptide-1 |
|
Rebecca Hu |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Regulation of
GLUT4 by cofilin |
|
Janice Kwan |
Dr. Janet Hux |
Barriers to
Diabetes Management Access |
|
Amber Menezes |
Dr. Stephen
Matthews |
Effects of
Volitional Exercise to Attenuate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in
the Male Zucker Diabetic (ZDF) rat:
A Study of HPA function in T2DM and Volitional Exercise. |
|
Thirumahal
Selvanantham |
Dr.
Hans-Michael Dosch |
Characterizing
the autoimmune response to GFAP in NOD mice |
|
Annaka
Springford |
Dr. Maria
Rozakis-Adcock |
Characterization of a novel actin and IRS-1 binding protein in the
regulation of GLUT4 trafficking in insulin-responsive L6 muscle
cells |
|
Tracy Teodoro |
Dr. Allen
Volchuk |
Examining
Anti-Diabetic Properties of Oleanolic Acid in Pancreatic B-Cells |
|
Garry Robert
Thomas |
Dr. Mladen
Vranic |
Effects of
Antagonizing Somatostatin on Glucagon Responses to Hypoglycemia |
|
Shirley Wai
Shang Tsang |
Dr. Denise
Belsham |
Glucose-Sensing
in Clonal Hypothalamic Cell Lines that Express either Neuropeptide Y
or POMC |
|
Shriley Chi-Tyan
Wang |
Dr. Donna
Stewart |
Sex differences
in various psychosocial, behavioural, and clinical characteristics
related to diabetes as identified during an initial assessment at a
diabetes education centre (DEC) |
|
Mitchell
Vainberg |
Dr. Pamela
Ohashi |
Examining the
role of PKB and Cbl-b in regulating T cell tolerance and actvation |
|
Thea Van Rossum |
Dr. Lowell
Langille |
Directional
motility of vascular cells |
|
Steven Wong |
Dr. Tianru Jin |
Role of Wnt3A
in regulating proglucagon gene expression and GLP-1 synthesis |
|
Carol Shanshan
Yang |
Dr. Shelley
Boyd |
Erythropoietin
Receptors in a Rat Model of Diabetic Retinopathy |
|
Fei Lu Ye |
Dr. Dominic Ng |
Novel
Lipid-insulin signaling crosstalk in a low HDL syndrome |
|
Andrea Yeung |
Dr. Patricia
Brubaker |
Role of
R-spondin-1 in the endocrine pancreas |
Hugh Sellers post-doctoral
Fellowship and BBDC Postdoctoral fellowships
The following have been
offered a 2006/2007 Hugh Sellers or BBDC Post-doctoral Fellowship:
|
Applicant |
Award |
Supervisor |
Title of Research |
|
Hongfang Lu |
Hugh Sellers
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. Michael
Wheeler |
Proteomic and
Genomic Approaches to Identify Potential Susceptibility Factors
Associated with the Development of Type 2 Diabetes |
|
Roman Iakoubov |
BBDC
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. Patricia
Brubaker |
Elucidating the
role of atypical Protein Kinase Czeta in molecular mechanisms
underlying fatty acid-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion |
|
Benjamin Lamont |
BBDC
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. Daniel
Drucker |
GIP action,
glucose homeostasis, and the islet beta cell |
|
Katrina
MacAulay |
BBDC
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. James
Woodgett |
Direct
evaluation of the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 isoforms in
insulin responses in mouse tissues |
|
Elodie Masson
|
BBDC
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. I. George
Fantus |
The
contribution of O-glycosylation to the development of diabetic
nephropathy in vivo |
|
Angela Smith |
BBDC
Post-doctoral Fellowship |
Dr. Gary Lewis |
Mechanisms of
intestinal lipoprotein overproduction in insulin resistant states |
trainee travel awards – period 2for
travel occurring between january 1 and june 30, 2006
The
following have each been offered a Trainee Travel Award of up to $1,000
Canadian:
|
Applicant |
Supervisor |
Title of Abstract |
|
Hussam Al-Kateb |
Dr. Andrew
Paterson |
Testing of
Common Variations in 212 Candidate Genes for Association with
Diabetic Nephropathy and Retinopathy:
The DCCT/EDIC Genetics Study |
|
Holly Bates |
Dr. Mladen
Vranic |
Long term
intermittent stress increases β-cell mass and lowers α-cell mass
while improving diabetes in male ZDF rats |
|
Kristin Beard |
Dr. George
Fantus |
Bradykinin
Sensitizes Rat Adipocytes to Insulin via a NO- Guanylate Cyclase
(GC)-cGMP-Protein Kinase G (PKG) Signaling Pathway that Inhibits JNK
and IRS-1 Ser 307 Phosphorylation |
|
Kristin
Freeland |
Dr. Thomas
Wolever |
The long-term
effect of cereal fiber on weight, fasting glucose, insulin,
cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids in hyperinsulinemic
humans |
|
Karena Huang |
Dr. Qinghua
Wang |
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase γ Mediates Glucagon-like Peptide-1
Induced Inhibition of Glucagon Secretion in Mice |
|
Michael Kiraly |
Dr. Mladen
Vranic and |
Exercise
Training Improves Glycemia and Glucose Tolerance While Maintaining
Islet Morphology, Beta Cell Function and Beta Cell Mass in the Male
ZDF Rat |
|
Edwin Kwan |
Dr. Herbert
Gaisano |
Munc 13-1
Interactions with cAMP Pathways in Insulin Exocytosis |
|
Patrick Lam |
Dr. Herbert
Gaisano |
Non-neuronal
Munc18b regulates insulin exocytosis in pancreatic islet β-cells |
|
Gareth Lim |
Dr. Patricia
Brubaker |
The Effect of
Insulin Resistance on Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Secretion in
Mouse Enteroendocrine L Cells |
|
Christine
Longuet |
Dr. Daniel
Drucker |
Glucagon
Receptor Signaling is Essential for Control of Hepatic Lipid
Homeostasis |
|
Adriano Maida |
Dr. Daniel
Drucker |
Incretin
hormones exert differential effects on adipose tissue and plasma
adipokines in mice |
|
Jocelyn Manning
Fox |
Dr. Michael
Wheeler |
α- and β-Cell
Electrical Activity in Rat and Mouse Islets – the Role of Potassium
Channels in Membrane Potential Oscillation |
|
Edward Park |
Dr. Adria
Giacca |
Resveratrol Prevents Free Fatty Acid (FFA)-Induced Insulin
Resistance in Parallel with Prevention of FFA-Induced Increase in
Serine (307) Phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 in
Skeletal Muscle |
|
Wei Qiu |
Dr. Khosrow
Adeli |
PTEN regulates
hepatic apolipoprotein B100 production via modulation of microsomal
triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) expression. |
|
Elaine Sinclair |
Dr. Daniel
Drucker |
Glucagon
receptor signalling attenuates hepatocyte susceptibility to
apoptosis. |
|
Karen Sison |
Dr. Susan
Quaggin and |
Podocyte-specific
Increase in VEGF-A Production Leads to Rapid Alterations in
Glomerular Permeability and Features of Diabetic Nephropathy |
|
Jane Sun |
Dr. Tianru Jin |
Examination of
the cross talks between insulin and Wnt signalling pathways |
|
Laura Stavar |
Dr. George
Fantus |
Protein Kinase
C (PKC) and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP)- α are Upstream
Signals in High Glucose-mediated Activation of Src, MAPKs and
Collagen Synthesis in Glomerular Mesangial Cells |
|
Christine Tang |
Dr. Adria
Giacca |
βcell
Glucotoxicity in vivo:
Role of Superoxide Generation |
|
Kanta Taniguchi |
Dr. George
Fantus |
High Glucose
Requires both Src and EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor)
Activation to Stimulate MAPK Signaling in Rat Mesangial Cells |
|
Farah Thong |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Functional
participation of the Rab GAP AS160 in GLUT4myc translocation
mediated by Akt, atypical protein kinase C (PKCζ), 5’-AMP-activated
protein kinase (AMPK) and Ca+2/calmodulin binding in L6 muscle cells |
|
Julie Tsai |
Dr. Khosrow
Adeli |
MEK-ERK
inhibition corrects the defect in VLDL assembly in HepG2 cells
indicating a key role of IRK in hepatic VLDL-apoB assembly |
|
Hubert Tsui |
Dr.
Hans-Michael Dosch |
Targeting of
Pancreatic Glia in Type 1 Diabetes |
|
Robert Wallis |
Dr. Philippe
Poussier |
A Novel Type 1
Diabetes Susceptibility Locus Identified Using the BB/Wor Rat Model |
|
Peixiang Wang |
Dr. Tianru Jin |
The role of the
Epac signaling pathway in regulating proglucagon gene expression in
intestinal endocrine L cells |
|
Fuzhen Xia |
Dr. Robert
Tsushima |
Association of
Kv4.3 to Lipid Rafts in Pancreatic α-Cells is Critical for Glucagon
Secretion |
|
Jessica Yue |
Dr. Mladen
Vranic |
Effects of
Recurrent Restraint Stress on Counterregulatory Hormone Responses to
Subsequent Stress in STZ-Diabetes |
Award
results are also posted in the Funding Decisions section of the BBDC’s
website.
* An
essential condition of all BBDC programs is the acknowledgement of BBDC
support, where appropriate, in all publications relevant to the
BBDC-supported research program.
Failure to appropriately acknowledge the BBDC’s support in relevant
publications will be considered grounds for suspending future eligibility
for BBDC funding programs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It
goes without saying that the BBDC could not function if it were not for the
dedication and efforts of the members of our
Research Committee and
Diabetes Care and Education Committee
who volunteer their time to help advance diabetes research, education, and
patient care at the University of Toronto and its affiliated institutions.
Among their many responsibilities, our two working committees review
applications for the Centre’s numerous funding programs and organize
educational events for diabetes health care professionals and researchers
such as our recent New Long-acting Insulin Analogues
Workshop and our 17th
Annual Scientific Day. We
are grateful for their time and efforts.
We would also like to express our gratitude to all the speakers who
participated in the above events.
As an integral part of
the application review process, the BBDC also obtains scientific reviews
from University of Toronto faculty who are involved in diabetes-related
research. The BBDC would like to
thank the BBDC Members who provided scientific reviews for various
BBDC funding programs this past year.
Finally, we wish to thank the following corporate
sponsors who helped support our educational activities over the past year:
AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly,
GlaxoSmithKline, LifeScan,
Merck Frosst Canada, Novo Nordisk
Canada, and
Sanofi-Aventis.
BBDC News is published in September,
December, March and June of each year.
Current and past issues are available
on our web site.
DIRECTOR: DANIEL J. DRUCKER, MD, FRCPC
Banting and Best
Diabetes Centre
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Located at
the Toronto General Hospital
200 Elizabeth Street
Max Bell Research
Centre, 4th Floor, 4R402
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4
Phone: (416) 978-4656
• Fax: (416) 978-4108
E-mail: diabetes.bbdc@utoronto.ca • Website:
www.bbdc.org