Group Members
Dr Stavroula Bitsi (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
Ms Yusman Manchanda (Research Coordinator)
Ms Liliane El Eid (PhD Student)
Ms Affiong Oqua (PhD Student)
Research Grants
July 2021: Lilly Research Award Program (LRAP): “The effects of ligand, genotype and tissue diversity on GIPR trafficking responses”. Co-Investigator (with Dr Ben Jones and Dr Kyle Sloop).
April 2021: BBSRC 20ALERT equipment grant: “Optical Fluorescence Micro and Nanoscopy to determine and quantify functional molecular interactions and dynamics across time and length scales”. Co-Investigator; Principal Investigator: Dr J. Bernardino de la Serna.
Jan 2021: Commonwealth PhD Scholarship: “Regulation of beta cell incretin responses by the lipid microenvironment” (Affiong Oqua). Sponsor/PI.
Jan 2021: DUK PhD Scholarship: “Spatiotemporal Control of Signaling of the GLP-1R Variant Ala316Thr in Pancreatic Beta Cells”. Principal Supervisor.
Dec 2019: EFSD/Boehringer Ingelheim European Research Programme on “Multi-System Challenges in Diabetes”: “Understanding the tissue-specific effects of biased GLP-1 receptor agonism in type 2 diabetes”. Co-Investigator; Principal Investigator: Dr B. Jones.
May 2019: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries: “Functional Studies on Novel GLP-1R Agonists”. Co- Investigator; Principal Investigator: Prof G.A. Rutter.
Mar 2018: MRC Project Grant: “Targeting GLP-1 Receptor Trafficking to Improve Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes”. Principal Investigator, grant number MR/R010676/1.
Sep 2016: DUK Early Career Small Grant: “Modulation of pancreatic beta-cell cytokine-induced apoptosis by p38-dependent ligand-independent activation of epidermal growth factor receptor”. Principal Investigator, grant number 16/0005441.
Mar 2015: MRC New Investigator Research Grant: “Role and regulation of GLP-1 receptor trafficking in pancreatic beta cells”. Principal Investigator, grant number MR/M012646.
Guest Lectures
Biased Signaling and Receptor Trafficking, The Latest on Incretin/GPCR Signaling in the Islet Symposium, American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions, Virtual, 2021
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor as a target in diabetes and obesity, Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE) Annual Research Symposium, University of Nottingham, UK, 2019
Targeting GLP-1 Receptor Trafficking to Improve Agonist Efficacy, American Diabetes Association 78th Scientific Sessions, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2018
Research Staff
Research Student Supervision
Buenaventura Perera,T, PhD title: "Regulation of GLP-1R Signalling by Endocytic Membrane Trafficking and its Significance for Pancreatic Beta Cell Insulin Secretion"
El Eid,L, PhD title: "The Spatiotemporal Control of Signalling and Trafficking of GLP-1R Variant Ala316Thr in Pancreatic Beta Cells"
Oqua,A, PhD title: "Regulation of beta cell incretin responses by the lipid microenvironment"