Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University received a $172,234 Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), awarded May 15, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The research focuses on elucidating the role of ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2)-dependent sphingolipids in human pancreatic beta-cell function and resilience, with the objective of identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms essential for maintaining beta-cell identity and preventing insulin deficiency in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

The deliverables under this award include investigator-initiated basic biomedical research conducted at Vanderbilt's Nashville facility. The project will generate scientific knowledge regarding how CERS2-derived very-long-chain sphingolipids regulate insulin secretion and beta-cell viability through targeted studies using human islets. Specifically, the research will employ beta-cell-specific CERS2 knockdown and integration of lipid profiling, gene expression analysis, and functional assays to characterize the cellular and molecular networks linking fatty acid metabolism to insulin maturation, insulin granule trafficking, and beta-cell survival. These research products advance NIDDK's programmatic objectives to improve understanding of diabetes mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment.