At the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Institute (DOMI), our expertise complements that of other world-class research at Mount Sinai. The DOMI includes experts in Type 1 diabetes immunology, Type 2 diabetes pathogenesis, neural control of metabolism, genomics and gene regulation, diabetes drug discovery and diabetes medical care, who will serve as a base to recruit additional investigators.
Artificial Pancreas Program.
Artificial Pancreas or Closed Loop Insulin Delivery systems have made immense strides in the past few years. In 2014, Mount Sinai initiated the first Artificial Pancreas Program in New York City, and one of only two in large cities in the US. Funded initially by philanthropy, it is now supported by the JDRF and NIH/NIDDK. The program is directed by Dr. Carol Levy, and works in collaboration with Dr. Boris Kovatchev at the University of Virginia and Dr. Wayne Bequette at Renssalear Polytechnical Institute.
Researchers: Carol Levy, David Lam, Grenye O’Malley, Emily Nosova.
Pancreatic Beta Cell Regeneration.
It is clear that both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes ultimately result from inadequate numbers of pancreatic beta cells, the cells that sense glucose and secrete insulin. Therefore, permanent cure of diabetes requires therapeutic approaches that regenerate, expand, or create de novo new human pancreatic beta cells. The DOMI has a strong focus on discovering approaches to induction of human cadaveric pancreatic beta cell proliferation and expansion, supported by parallel studies in mouse genetic models. The DOMI islet group was the first to demonstrate, in contrast to conventional wisdom, that human cadaveric beta cells can be induced to replicate, both in vitro and in vivo using molecular and pharmacologic tools. More recently, we have identified multiple drugs that are able to drive human beta cells to replicate in vitro and in vivo. Translating this work from the laboratory to human trials in a safe and effective manner is one principal goal of the DOMI.
Researchers: Andrew Stewart, Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, Donald Scott, Peng Wang.
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery.
Medicinal Chemistry at Mount Sinai is exceptionally strong, and this applies to diabetes as well. The DeVita group in the Drug Discovery Institute (DDI) has synthesized and characterized hundreds of variants on human beta cell regenerative drugs, and has designed targeting technologies to deliver these compounds specifically to human beta cells.
Researchers: Robert DeVita, Kunal Kumar, Roberto Sanchez, Andrew Stewart, Peng Wang, Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña.
Insulinoma Genetics, Genomics, miRNAs, Epigenetics and Bioinformatics.
DOMI members are exploiting rare human beta cell tumors called “insulinomas” to define the molecular pathways that control human beta cell replication. This has led to the discovery of several novel and critical pathways that maintain beta cell quiescence, and that can be manipulated pharmacologically to induce human beta cell proliferation. We have established the world’s largest human insulinoma biorepository and database of genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetic and whole genome sequencing.
Researchers: Andrew Stewart, Esra Karakose, Luca Lambertini, Peng Wang, Donald Scott, Eric Schadt, Carmen Argman, Huan Wang, sema4 Therapeutics.
Type 1 Diabetes Auto- and Allo- Immunology.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells in subjects with genetic predisposition to Type 1 diabetes. Therefore, effective treatment of Type 1 diabetes will require not only methods for beta cell production, replacement and/or regeneration, as described above, but also that the abnormal autoimmune destruction of beta cells be reversed once it occurs - or better yet - before beta cells are destroyed. Mount Sinai has an exceptionally strong Precision Immunology Institute (PrIISM), focused on inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis) and cancer therapeutics. The Recanati/Miller Transplant Institute also has an excellent group focused on Transplant Immunology. The DOMI is collaborating with these three excellent groups to develop therapeutic approaches to auto- and allo-immune challenges associated with beta cell regeneration and replacement. The DOMI is also interested in recruiting high level experts in Type 1 Diabetes immunology.
Researchers: Dirk Homann, Amir Horowitz.
CNS Control of Metabolism.
Hypothalamic control of appetite/satiety, as well as metabolic rate, insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion have emerged as critical areas in the metabolic syndrome, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. In addition, the Stanley group has demonstrated direct and bidirectional innervation pathways connecting CNS neural control centers and nuclei to pancreatic islets via sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia. DOMI members are thought leaders in this area as well.
Researchers: Sarah Stanley, Alexandra Alvarsson, Maria Jimenez-Gonzalez.
Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Trials.
Nationally and internationally, we are in an era in which large, multi-center diabetes immune prevention and tolerance clinical trials are constantly in progress. The adult and pediatric endocrinology Divisions at Mount Sinai (Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease; Pediatrics/Endocrinology and Diabetes) are national leaders in excellent diabetes care. An active initiative in the DOMI is to integrate the Mount Sinai CTSA (Conduits - The Institute for Translational Sciences), the Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology Divisions into large multinational networks performing Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Trials. This is an active area of recruitment for additional senior investigators.
Researchers: Carol Levy, Jeanine Albu
Fuel Metabolism, Signal Transduction.
Types 1 and 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity all have their origins - and ultimate cures - in properly regulated mitochondrial energy use, fat metabolism, and glucose metabolism. These in turn are controlled in the relevant organs - brain, liver, fat cells, skeletal muscle cells, and pancreatic beta cells - by growth factors and nutrients, which then transmit their signals to the nucleus and mitochondria via complex intracellular signaling networks. Understanding these in the organs listed above, their intracellular signaling and metabolic control, is essential to understanding how to prevent and cure diabetes. Fortunately, multiple investigators in the DOMI have world-class expertise in these inter-related areas.
Researchers: Donald Scott, Prashant Rajbhandari, Susan Fried, Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, Dirk Homann. Jerry Chipuk, Scott Friedman.
Rodent and Lower Species Metabolic Phenotyping.
Mice and rats provide irreplaceable models of human Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and obesity, fatty liver, beta cell failure and expansion, etc. They permit studies that cannot be performed in humans, such as gene knockout models. Multiple investigators in the DOMI have world-class expertise in developing and studying mouse genetic models, rat models as well as drosophila (fruit fly) and zebrafish models of all of the above. Complete rodent metabolic phenotyping and body composition facilities are contained in DOMI.
Researchers: Prashant Rajbhandari, Donald Scott, Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, Sarah Stanley.
Adipocyte Biology and Inflammation.
Adipocytes (fat cells) were long thought to be inert storage facilities for fuel, in the form of fat (triglycerides). It is now clear that this was naïve and inaccurate: adipocytes have an enormous range of metabolic activity, and can serve either to store excess fuel, or to burn it and remove it. They also secrete a large number of molecules (adipokines) that can impair insulin signaling in liver and muscle, and insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells, and thereby lead to the features of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes. This is a “hot” field in diabetes and obesity, and Mount Sinai investigators are strong in this area.
Researchers: Donald Scott, Prashant Rajbhandari, Susan Fried, Miriam Merad, Brian Brown.
Type 2 Diabetes, Bariatric Surgery Clinical Trials.
Mount Sinai has a large Diabetes Center of Excellence for Clinical Care (Mount Sinai Diabetes Center), and also an outstanding Bariatric Surgery Program (Surgery/Metabolic, Endocrine and Minimally Invasive Surgery Division) for what is now widely acknowledged as the most effective treatment for sustained weight loss and reversal of Type 2 diabetes. This is also an outstanding opportunity to develop an active clinical research program, in conjunction with the Mount Sinai CTSA. Building and recruiting senior investigators into a Type 2 diabetes and bariatric surgery clinical research, in conjunction with the Mount Sinai CTSA (Conduits - The Institute for Translational Sciences), is an active short-term goal of the DOMI.
Researchers: Carol Levy, Jeanine Albu
Vascular, Renal, Neural Complications of Diabetes
While awaiting ultimate cures for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, these diseases continue to ravage affected people with vascular disease (heart attack, peripheral arterial disease and stroke); kidney failure requiring dialysis; blindness; and loss of sensation, loss of muscle control, and chronic pain (neuropathy). The Mount Sinai DOMI is exceptional in that it has thought leaders and advocates for more effective diabetes treatment and prevention, as well as research, in the Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, and in the Department of Neurology.
Diabetes and Obesity Epidemiology, Public Health, Community Programs.
The US spends almost $300 billion annually on diabetes care (the majority) and lost productivity. Diabetes in predicted to affect as many as 30% of children by the time they reach 30 years of age. Clearly, preventing and reversing this “diabesity” epidemic is a national priority. Mount Sinai DOMI researchers are at the forefront of this effort, with public health and community based initiatives driven by the Disease Prevention and Public Health Institute.
Human Embryonic Stem / iPS Cell Differentiation to Beta Cells.
One ultimate approach to the cure of Type 1 diabetes is pancreatic beta cell replacement through the use of human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells induced to differentiate in this direction. Nationally, much progress has been made in this arena, and DOMI investigators interact with leading university and commercial groups working in this area nationally. Fortunately, the DOMI interacts with national and international leaders in stem cell biology based in the Black Family Stem Cell Institute, and are well positioned to combine DOMI’s expertise in beta cell regeneration with stem cell approaches developed at Mount Sinai and elsewhere.
Human Metabolic Imaging
Multimodal imaging is exceptional at Mount Sinai. We are leaders in PET, MRI, NMR spectroscopy, co-registered CT, intravascular ultrasound, with state-of-the-art facilities for all, have helped the Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Department of Radiology achieve national and international prominence in cardiovascular research. For example, the PET facility is participating in trials attempting to image human pancreatic beta cells in diabetes.
RESEARCH CORES
Mount Sinai has a large number of outstanding research cores which exist to support research efforts in multiple institutes and departments. There are too many to described here, but can be reviewed at SRFs MSSM. Example of several with close ties to the DOMI are shown below.
Human Islet and Adenovirus Core (HIAC)
This is a core within DOMI, Directed by Dr. Garcia-Ocaña, as a component of the Einstein-Sinai DRC.
Structural Biology
The Department of Structural Biology at Mount Sinai are exceptional. DOMI members have multiple active projects with these entities.
Monoclonal Antibody Core
Mount Sinai has an excellent Center for Therapeutic Antibody Development Thomas Moran, with several active collaborative projects with DOMI members.
Flow Cytometry/Cell Sorting Core
As noted above, the Immunology Institute at Mount Sinai is exceptional. It contains a Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core which is used my multiple DOMI members.
Gene Editing Core.
State of the Art mouse and human gene editing technology and training are available in the Mouse Genetics and Gene Editing Core and the Black Family Stem Cell Institute Gene Editing Core.
Immune Technology Core (ITC).
The ITC is a new Core that is a component of the Einstein-Sinai NIDDK Diabetes Research Center (DRC). It assists in connecting diabetes investigators to cutting edge technologies such as CyTOF, advanced tissue imaging, and synTac technology.