APRIL 2022
NEWSLETTER
HIRN FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT: CATALYST AWARD
The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) announces a new funding initiative to support investigators in developing bold, innovative, and challenging projects that will catalyze the diabetes research field and provide important advances in topics of interest to the network. Applicants must propose aims focused on an original scientific idea or question that is distinct from current HIRN funded research. The scientific focus of application to the HIRN Catalyst program must fall within the purview of one (or more) of the current HIRN consortia. Foreign applications not eligible.

Key Dates
Posted Date:   
Letter of Intent Due Date:         
Application Due Date:                
Scientific Review:                       
Start Date:                                                  
December 1, 2021
March 1, 2022
May 2, 2022  
May – July, 2022
August 1, 2022                
THE SUGAR SCIENCE: D-Challenge
The D-Challenge is a community-based research challenge designed to uncover novel and compelling hypotheses about the biology, etiology, treatment of sequelae of Type 1 Diabetes, using the rich ecosystem of on-line tools and data findable through dkNET.

Deadline to register your team: August 1, 2022
Weekly data bootcamps: August 5 - October 8, 2022
Submit Hypothesis: October 14, 2022
Live Hypothesis Pitch/Awards: October 21, 2022
Learn more HERE.
ISLET ISOLATION DATA AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS
The Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) now offers access to a fully integrated Research Data Repository (RDR) for data on more than 1400 IIDP human islet isolations. Data are available from 2010 onward, with over 200 data fields per isolation, including data from our Islet Isolation Centers, UNOS, Human Islet Phenotyping Program (HIPP) data, and most recently added, T2D genetic risk score data provided by our Human Islet Genotyping Initiative (HIGI). HIGI is directed by Dr Anna Gloyn of the Translational Genomics of Diabetes Lab in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. The mission of the HIGI is to generate array-based genotype data on all islet donors to enable a summary of their genetic risk for diabetes to be displayed for users. The IIDP RDR provides a convenient way for investigators to search and download this integrated data for phenotype/genotype correlations and other analyses into human islet function. Click here to apply for an IIDP data study to access the RDR or visit the IIDP website for more information. 
UPCOMING WEBINAR
The  NIDDK Information Network (dkNET) is inviting you to join them for a webinar "Integrative Artificial Intelligence Approach to Predict Type 1 Diabetes. Dr. Kenneth Young, Assistant Professor, Health Informatics Institute, University of South Florida will be presenting this webinar on Friday, May 13, 2022, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Pacific. Learn more HERE.
The Scientific Town Hall is where we tackle difficult questions that affect the Type 1 diabetes (T1D) scientific community. This event is interactive and inclusive. We gather thought leaders and innovative thinkers to set the stage for the discussion and then engage with the scientific community in a respectful debate in hopes of gaining insight and direction into both scientific and policy issues that intersect with T1D. The Sugar Science will be presenting: "Working with the FDA to allow greater access to islet transplant in the US" at the next SCI Town Hall on April 28, 2022. Learn more HERE.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Beta Cell Replacement Therapies in T1D

A JDRF-NIH-FDA co-organized workshop on beta cell replacement is taking place on May 18-19, 2022 on NIH campus. It is a hybrid meeting, so virtual participation is also available. Registration deadline is May 10, 2022. Learn more HERE.
Modern Phenotypic Drug Discovery: From Chemical Biology to Therapeutics

Phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) as an approach to drug discovery and chemical biology has been building momentum and excitement in both academia and industry. The convergence of new technology platforms (e.g., induced pluripotent stem cells, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, 3D biology, advanced imaging) with other disciplines such as cheminformatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have led to an exciting renaissance of PDD. This meeting will bring together researchers performing or interested in PDD from across academia & industry. Although modern advances in PDD span both academic and industry sectors, there are few non-commercial drug discovery-focused meetings available for the community, and the Keystone Symposia program is a premiere forum for this topic. 

This meeting will be held on May 22 - 25, 2022 in person or livestream attendance. Learn more HERE.

This meeting will be held May 30 - June 3, 2022 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more HERE.
NIDDK Exocrine/Endocrine Pancreas Workshop

The goal of this 1.5-day workshop will be to gather clinical and basic science investigators who are interested in diseases of the exocrine and/or endocrine pancreas and in achieving an understanding of how the two compartments interact in disease. This workshop will provide an opportunity for investigators in exocrine diseases to come together with those studying islets in diabetes as a means to foster interdisciplinary discussion and identify areas for advancement. This meeting will be held June 29-30, 2022 at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus.
Learn more HERE.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

A goal of the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s (Helmsley) Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Program is to support the discovery and development of interventions to prevent or delay the development of T1D. To address this, the Helmsley T1D Program is pleased to announce two funding opportunities to support:
  • New efforts to understand relationships between the prenatal development period and initiation of islet autoimmunity.
IIIIIIIIILearn more HERE.
  • New studies into understanding and therapeutically emulating examples where individuals are naturally protected from developing T1D. Learn More HERE.

Timeline for both opportunities:
Full grant proposal due: June 1, 2022 
Start date: November 1, 2022 
The Innovative Science Accelerator Program (ISAC) new funding program.
The ISAC Program supports truly innovative, disruptive, risky research to accelerate breakthrough discoveries.
ISAC provides:
  1. Funding for small high-risk/high reward projects via a streamlined process to support cutting-edge research and accelerate true innovation in scientific areas of interest to the Kidney-Urologic-Hematologic (KUH) research communities.
  2. Collaboration and Events for researchers and trainees to efficiently exchange ideas and resources to accelerate innovation.
Applications can be submitted to the ISAC web portal at any time. The review of submitted applications will occur three times a year and provide a quick turnaround from review to award.
  • Application Final Submission: Aug 15, Dec 15
  • Peer Review: Sept, Jan
  • Notification of Award: Oct, Feb
Learn more HERE
NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
RFA-DK-21-030: New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Application due date:  June 1, 2022 and March 20, 2023 
  • Foreign applications are not eligible

F31 PAR-19-378: Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Predoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases 
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply 
  • Foreign applications eligible

F32 PAR-19-379: Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases 
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply 
  • Foreign applications eligible

PAR-20-140: Catalytic Tool and Technology Development in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply
  • Foreign applications are eligible
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Below is a summary of the most recent job postings by category (Faculty, Research Staff/Admin, Postdoc). Visit the HIRN Website for a full listing for job opportunities.
LEADERSHIP/FACULTY
Associate Program Officers
The Helmsley Charitable Trust seeks two Associate Program Officers who will work closely with and report to the T1D Program Officers within evolving grant portfolios that aim to identify biomedical interventions to delay and prevent the disease. The Associate Program Officer will be responsible for substantive programmatic support of the following: review and response to scientific proposals, conducting due diligence for potential grants, managing and writing grant recommendations, monitoring progress of existing grants, keeping up to date on relevant scientific and clinical developments, and supporting new strategy development. The Associate Program Officer will help manage all administrative components of the grantmaking process, especially tasks associated with managing grant lifecycles, monitoring progress of grantees, tracking program budgets, ensuring accurate payment and accounting of grants, helping to plan and execute program-related meetings, and maintaining positive and proactive communication with grantees. Some travel, both domestic and international, is required for meetings with potential and current grantees, as well as to relevant conferences. Apply HERE.
Faculty Recruitment
The University of Alabama at Birmingham* (UAB) and the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) are leading the recruitment of up to 10 investigators for a major strategic portfolio increase across basic, translational, clinical, and population science research efforts in diabetes. Recruitment is for tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-earning faculty applicants with an MD, PhD or MD/PhD at all ranks and includes academic appointment in one or more of 27 academic departments across the Heersink SOM. All applications will be considered, but priority will be given to those with the following focus areas in diabetes and metabolism research:
·        single-cell biology
·        epigenetics
·        bioinformatics
·        investigator-initiated clinical trials
·        adult or pediatric longitudinal diabetes
·        studies
·        medical informatics
·        precision diabetes
·        translational type 1 and type 2 diabetes
·        research
·        population health research in diabetes
Interested candidates should send their CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Carter.  
Staff Scientist
A staff scientist is sought to fill a position to work in the diabetes research and regenerative medicine laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Millman at Washington University in St. Louis. The laboratory focuses on the generation insulin-producing pancreatic β cells for the study and treatment of diabetes. We have a wide diversity of projects involving stem cells differentiation, genetic engineering with CRISPR, disease modeling, transplantation into animal models of diabetes, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, and single-cell sequencing technologies and has been very productive with publications in high impact journals. The ideal candidate would be able to provide high level support across multiple projects. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to
Physician Scientist
The University of Chicago's Department of Medicine is searching for full-time physician scientist faculty members at any rank. Appointees will maintain a productive research program and provide patient care directly. Other responsibilities will include teaching and supervision of trainees and students. We are interested in applicants in any area of scientific investigation and clinical subspecialty, and especially welcome those whose research focus more broadly is in the areas of immunology/inflammation, diabetes, obesity, metabolism, sleep disorders, or cancer biology. Prior to the start of employment, qualified applicants must: 1) have a medical doctorate or equivalent, and 2) hold or be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Illinois. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Mirmira
RESEARCH STAFF/ADMIN
Project Manager
A multidisciplinary team at Vanderbilt seeks a Project Manager to coordinate multiple aspects of the Pancreatlas™ imaging resource, a public platform created to bring together imaging data from human pancreas samples to accelerate diabetes-related research. The candidate will oversee project operations, including maintaining documentation and organizational structures, leading regular meetings and establishing milestones, developing data visualization and metadata fields for new data types, identifying potential connections and collaborators, and creating written communications for conferences, meetings, or general publicity within the research community. The candidate will also provide biological expertise for data curation and publication. For more information and official job posting, contact Dr. Diane Saunders
Data Curator
The Powers & Brissova Research Group seeks a Data Curator to lead data and metadata curation for human pancreas and islet phenotyping projects. As a member of a multidisciplinary research team, the candidate will coordinate and maintain project timelines, assess and continually improve on best practices for local metadata/data storage and annotation, and assist group members with data analysis, visualization, and sharing. These responsibilities will include supporting the Pancreatlas™ imaging resource, a public platform created at Vanderbilt to bring together imaging data from human pancreas samples to accelerate diabetes-related research. The candidate will assist contributors with submitting and publishing imaging and other data types, including integrating existing metadata ontologies and identifying opportunities for cross-referencing with different scientific programs. The candidate will also use their knowledge of data structures to assist database developers in building a graph database and visualization tools connecting imaging and omic resources. For more information and official job posting, contact Dr. Marcela Brissova.
POSTDOCTORAL
Postdoctoral Position
The Evans-Molina lab in the Wells Center for Pediatric Research in the Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to join our vibrant and diverse research team. The overall goal of the Evans-Molina lab is to define the molecular and signaling pathways in the pancreatic β cell that contribute to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Much of this work is focused on the regulation of calcium homeostasis within the secretory pathway of the pancreatic β cell and testing how loss of calcium within this compartment leads to endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi stress and impaired proinsulin processing. The successful applicant for this position will have a Ph.D. degree and a background in laboratory-based investigation. Applicants for the position should provide a brief statement of research interests, CV, and the names of three references to Dr. Carmella Evans-Molina
Postdoctoral Position
Indiana Biosciences Research Institute is offering Postdoctoral positions to study the protection of antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies and engineered T cells against type 1 diabetes, supported by federal and local fundings. Candidates must have Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees in immunology, biology, or a related field. Candidates with expertise and skills in Immunology, autoimmune disease, and diabetes are strongly encouraged to apply. In this position, you will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team to study immune interventions using both animal models and human samples. Candidates will also be encouraged to develop their own research interests. Interested candidates should send their CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Li Zhang.
Postdoctoral Position
The University of Zurich and ETH Zurich is looking for a postdoctoral fellow to characterize the phenotypic and functional changes that occur in islets and their surrounding environment in the natural history of T1D. The project is embedded in an exciting multi-laboratory collaboration that will generate functional, single-cell genomics and imaging mass cytometry data from cultured pancreas slices. The selected candidate will use imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to analyze pancreas slices from human donors with T1D. Machine learning approaches and systems biology analyses will be used to integrate the different types of data and correlate phenotypic changes with functional measurements performed on the same slices. In this position you will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team to study immune cells and pancreatic islet and exocrine cells in human pancreas slices. You will develop novel single-cell approaches to integrate functional, genomics and imaging mass cytometry data. A highly motivated Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. level researcher with a passion for science who would like to work in a collaborative multidisciplinary research environment that combines tissue biology, computational biology, systems biology and biomedicine. Applicants for the position should provide a brief statement of research interests, CV, and the names of three references to Dr. Bodenmiller.
Postdoctoral Position
The Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to study adeno-associated virus (AAV) and its application for human gene therapy in the lab, led by Professor Hiroyuki Nakai, M.D., Ph.D. Specifically, the lab is looking for a post-doctoral researcher who can effectively lead several projects, including a multi-PI (MPI) NIH project " U01DK123608 (MPIs: Nakai, Grompe and Kay): Gene Therapy for Diabetes." We seek to develop clinically relevant novel AAV vectors and methods for in vivo regeneration of insulin-secreting beta cells in rhesus macaques and understand the mechanisms behind the technologies. Interested applicants are encouraged to send a cover letter and C.V. to Dr. Hiroyuki Nakai.
Postdoctoral Position
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow for the Child Health Institute of New Jersey. The position is available in El Ouaamari’s laboratory to investigate the role of the peripheral neurons in the regulation of systemic energy homeostasis in the context of obesity and diabetes. Self-driven, creative, resourceful and independent candidates with a PhD in neuroscience or neurobiology are encouraged to apply. Prior postdoctoral experience in neuroscience or related fields is preferred. Successful applicants will develop a research project focused on understanding how peripheral neurons control glucose and lipid homeostasis—with the long-term goal of identifying high-value biological data that can be harnessed to design neuromodulation-based strategies to counter obesity and diabetes. The candidate must be skilled in using in vitro and in vivo techniques for manipulating and monitoring neuronal activity and should have strong records of productivity and achievement. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in islet biology as well. The successful candidate will also contribute to the training of undergraduate and graduate students and work closely with the PI on preparation and submission of research/review articles and grants. Interested candidates should send their CV, a one-page summary of their past research and future research interests, and the contact information for 2-3 references directly to
Postdoctoral Position
Post-Doctoral Fellowship position in the Kulkarni Lab at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School. One position is available immediately for a period of 3 years each. Applications are invited from individuals with a PhD or MD or MD PhD degrees. Candidates with expertise in Bioinformatics will be especially relevant. Prospective candidates should have expertise in handling large ‘omics’ databases and be willing to work closely with other Fellows in the lab to assist in analyses of biological data from diverse projects focused on Metabolism. These include but are not restricted to defining pathways and identifying mechanisms that regulate pancreatic (endocrine and exocrine) biology and inter-organ cross-talk in the overall maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Other projects include induced pluripotent stem cells, genetically engineered and humanized mouse models. Candidates will also be encouraged to develop their own research interests. Applicants for the position should provide a brief statement of research interests, CV, and the names of three references to Dr. Kulkarni.
Postdoctoral Position
The Diabetes Institute at the University of Florida (UFDI) is recruiting up to two new Postdoctoral Research Associate positions. Our type 1 diabetes program recognized, at an international level, for outstanding research, training, and clinical care. It is well-funded by a series of individual, programmatic, and training level (T32, F, K) grants supported by numerous federal (NIH) and foundational agencies. Our research programs are broad in their scope, highly interdisciplinary, and translational. Faculty affiliated with the UFDI are engaged in innovative and cutting edge research in the areas of autoimmunity, genetics, metabolism, pathology, cell biology, microscopy, and imaging. Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, NIH Biosketch/personal research statement (one-two pages), and three letters of recommendation. Three letters of reference should be sent directly to Dr. Todd Brusko.
Postdoctoral Position
The Freyberg laboratory is offering Postdoctoral positions to study roles of dopamine in pancreatic hormone secretion and in diabetes. Candidates must have Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees. Previous experience with molecular biology, mammalian cell and pancreatic islet culture, fluorescence microscopy is also preferred but not required, although candidates with experience in these skills are strongly encouraged to apply. Training in more advanced techniques is a key aim of the postdoctoral position; the biggest requirement is the enthusiasm and ambition of the candidate to make important contributions to our understanding of dopamine actions in metabolism. Interested candidates should send their CV, a one-page summary of their past research and future research interests, and the contact information for 2-3 references directly to Dr. Zachary Freyberg.
Postdoctoral Position
The laboratory of Dr. Leonardo Ferreira in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is searching for a postdoctoral fellow to lead regulatory T cell (Treg) research projects in the lab. The objective of the Ferreira Lab is to design and develop engineered immune cell therapies for autoimmune disease and aging. The candidate must have a PhD in biology, immunology, or a related field, and have demonstrated quality publication of their work. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with three references to
Postdoctoral Position
Benaroya Research Institute’s Center for Interventional Immunology seeking outstanding clinical investigator for faculty position as well as post-doctorate candidates or research fellows interested in clinical/translational research in type 1 diabetes and/or autoimmunity. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Carla Greenbaum.
Postdoctoral Position
The Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope is looking for a talented postdoctoral fellow. The collaborative laboratories of Dr. John Kaddis is seeking innovative postdoctoral candidates to conduct in-silico translational research in the field of type 1 diabetes (T1D). This individual will participate in one or more projects that examine the role of molecular, cellular, genetic, and epidemiological variation in T1D. This candidate will have an opportunity to work with specialists in the fields of immunology, diabetes, and data/computer science. Expertise in statistical methods for disease risk prediction and modeling, as well as clinical data, genome sequence, SNP array, “-omics”, and large-scale genetic association analysis is helpful. Experience with public databases/repositories is highly desired.  Necessary skills include those from bioinformatics, computer/data science, mathematics, software engineering, and computational biology. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to
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