In a new series, the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), a leader in the field of diabetes research, will highlight its dynamic faculty and trainees.

The UCDC has members from across several schools and departments at UAB. Diabetes research capabilities are made stronger by the diverse research focuses and innovations that members bring to the table. To better understand these research capabilities and discoveries, we will spotlight UCDC researchers throughout the year.

Our first spotlight is Eliana Toren, senior graduate student in the lab of Chad Hunter, Ph.D. Toren will defend her Ph.D. dissertation in October 2022.

Tell us a little bit about you and your role at the UCDC.

“My name is Eliana, and I’m a senior graduate student in Dr. Chad Hunter’s lab. I’ve been here since 2016 and have worked on a variety of islet projects in the lab. I am now on my way to defending my thesis. Hopefully everyone can join on October 25th. Mark your calendars! I plan afterwards to pursue a career in scientific editing, using my expertise to revise manuscripts and participate in multiple steps of the peer-review process at a scientific journal.”

What first got you interested in diabetes research?

“My love of endocrinology is what first led me to diabetes research. The fine-tuned way hormones can regulate every single body system always fascinated me. Since then, I’ve found that diabetes research can be so diverse and multi-disciplinary, which I love. We can combine aspects of development, metabolism, genetics, clinical work, etc. and all use our own strengths and passions. Diabetes was not specifically something I thought I’d be interested in, but I’ve found there to be so much room to find my niche in the field.”

Tell us a little bit about your own research.

“My research focuses on embryonic development and transcriptional regulators of pancreatic islet cell fate. What does that mean exactly? My interests lie in what controls how a cell goes from a stem-like progenitor to a fully functioning endocrine cell. In this case, an insulin-producing beta-cell. I’ve published on a transcriptional regulator, Ldb1, that is required for pancreatic islet formation. As stem-cell based beta-cell replacement therapies continue to expand, the goal of my research is to understand how the body first forms these cells embryonically. Our understanding of these fundamental first steps will set the foundation for learning to replicate and perfect islet-cell formation for future diabetes therapeutic strategies.”

What does support of the UCDC and its mission mean to you?

“Supporting the UCDC means students like me can continue not only to engage in exciting research in the lab, but go to national conferences, participate in continuing education courses, and build on the multi-disciplinary education that makes scientific discoveries possible.”

If you or a UCDC colleague is interested in being featured, please reach out to diabetescomm@uabmc.edu.