Probing the relationship between functional and structural networks in the pancreatic islet using computational modeling of the islet electrophysiology and calcium microscopy

The pancreatic Islet is composed of hundreds of highly heterogeneous, insulin-secreting beta cells. Gap-junction protein channels form links between this complex network of dynamic cells, allowing them to synchronize and secrete insulin in a pulsatile fashion. This synchronization is essential for healthy glucose homeostasis and is lost preceding Type I and Type II Diabetes. Therefore, understanding the beta-cell network and how it reacts to perturbations holds significant promise to new diabetes diagnostics and therapies.