The research grants awarded by the Partnership seek to provide two primary benefits:
- Improve healthcare for Minnesotans by the development of diagnostics and treatments for multiple high-profile diseases.
- Build an enhanced research and development base along with economic benefits for Minnesota through the commercialization of biomedical innovations.
The research teams are awarded the grants for a two-year period and after the teams obtain new sources of long-term funding, often from the National Institutes of Health.
The key areas of progress have been recognized by science and business sectors both nationally and globally. During the past phases of research awards, The Partnership research teams have accomplished much for the people of Minnesota and patients everywhere.
2011 Research Awards
The Chip
Research Team: Yogish Kudva, M.B.B.S., Ananda Basu, M.B.B.S. Mayo Clinic; Steven Koester, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
This project will develop a specialized electronic chip that will vastly improve glucose monitoring and provide a critical component to the artificial pancreas being by Mayo Clinic. The chip will be a new type of sensor that can transmit data wirelessly and therefore function in more locations in the body than current sensors. It may also last longer than current sensors and, because it’s made from graphene, may also be useful in detecting other diabetes factors such as lactate or ketone molecules. Based on a device concept invented at the University of Minnesota, the new sensor should be more reliable, stable and accurate — and help make the artificial pancreas possible.
The Drug Targets
Research Team: Alessandro Bartolomucci, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; and John Miles, M.D., Mayo Clinic
This project will develop an anti-obesity drug, since obesity is the greatest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. To do so they need to discover new molecular targets for the drugs. A prime drug candidate is the peptide TLQP-21, which was recently identified by Dr. Bartolomucci’s lab. It has been shown to prevent obesity in mice by increasing fat decomposition and decreasing the size of fat cells. For the next year, the researchers will be uncovering how the peptide functions, as well as determining its receptor, its biochemical properties and chemical structure. That knowledge will form the foundation of a new anti-obesity drug program. The goal is to create medications that, used in combination with lifestyle changes, will limit obesity and thus prevent Type 2 diabetes.
The Mouse Model
Research Team: Brian Fife, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; and Govindarajan Rajagopalan, D.V. M., Ph.D. and Chella David, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
Dr. Fife and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota recently discovered that targeting insulin-specific T cells (the killer cells of the body’s immune system) is an effective way to cure Type 1 diabetes in mice. Dr. Rajagopalan and Dr. David, both of Mayo Clinic, pioneer the development of transgenic mice that contain human HLA alleles — the genetic source of Type 1 diabetes. The two teams will test and validate mouse models containing human diabetes cells against various factors. The goal is to find targets that would make T cells more tolerant and keep them from destroying beta cells that prodcue insulin. A validated mouse model will help researchers test potential drugs on human diabetes cells with out harming patients.