Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology
Dr. Rennian Wang is a cell biologist researching beta cell development and transplantation in the context of disease treatment, with a long-term goal of optimizing islet cell replacement for people with diabetes.
Neogenesis, the differentiation of islet beta cells from progenitor cells present in the pancreas, can continue into postnatal life, and has been reported to occur in several animal models. Recent studies have also demonstrated neogenesis of endocrine cells in vitro from ductal structures or from islet themselves derived from adult human and animals, suggest new possibilities for generating new beta cells in culture. Such strategies might provide models to study the regulation of islet differentiation as well as providing new sources of beta cells for transplantation, but the nature of endocrine progenitors identity and the signals that regulate neogenic activity need to be elucidated. The research focus in my laboratory are: (i) the molecular events controlling pre- and postnatal beta-cell development and maturation, and (ii) the characterization of optimal culture environments for inducing progenitors to differentiate into insulin-producing islet cells, maintaining islet architecture and function. There are three major projects in my research program: (1) developing of human pancreas [funded by CDA], (2) SCF/c-Kit in regulating beta-cell function and survival [funded by CIHR] and (3) integrin/ECM in maintaining islet architecture and function [funded by NSERC]. Our long-term goal is to create effective strategies for islet cell replacement or regeneration in human diabetics.
Research Interest Area: Diabetes
Research Overview: Developmental biology of pancreas; Islet cell growth and transplantation; Diabetes
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About Rennian Wang
Dr. Rennian Wang is a cell biologist researching beta cell development and transplantation in the context of disease treatment, with a long-term goal of optimizing islet cell replacement for people with diabetes.
Neogenesis, the differentiation of islet beta cells from progenitor cells present in the pancreas, can continue into postnatal life, and has been reported to occur in several animal models. Recent studies have also demonstrated neogenesis of endocrine cells in vitro from ductal structures or from islet themselves derived from adult human and animals, suggest new possibilities for generating new beta cells in culture. Such strategies might provide models to study the regulation of islet differentiation as well as providing new sources of beta cells for transplantation, but the nature of endocrine progenitors identity and the signals that regulate neogenic activity need to be elucidated. The research focus in my laboratory are: (i) the molecular events controlling pre- and postnatal beta-cell development and maturation, and (ii) the characterization of optimal culture environments for inducing progenitors to differentiate into insulin-producing islet cells, maintaining islet architecture and function. There are three major projects in my research program: (1) developing of human pancreas [funded by CDA], (2) SCF/c-Kit in regulating beta-cell function and survival [funded by CIHR] and (3) integrin/ECM in maintaining islet architecture and function [funded by NSERC]. Our long-term goal is to create effective strategies for islet cell replacement or regeneration in human diabetics.
Research Interest Area: Diabetes
Research Overview: Developmental biology of pancreas; Islet cell growth and transplantation; Diabetes
| Present | Professor, Western University ‐ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology | |
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| Present | Professor, Western University ‐ Department of Medicine | |
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| Present | Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute ‐ Children's Health Research Institute (CHRI) | |
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