Dr. Coronel’s research focuses on the use of innovative nanotechnology, specifically designed to track how oxygen levels influence the viability and functionality of transplanted beta cells.
U-M BME Assistant Professor Maria Coronel recently received two grants to support her promising research into Type 1 diabetes (T1D), a testament to the potential clinical impact of her work. Dr. Coronel is developing groundbreaking research that aims to improve and expand cell replacement therapies to combat T1D.
Dr. Coronel’s first honor comes in the form of a Career Development Award from the Breakthrough T1D (BT1D–formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). This is the major nonprofit foundation funding Type 1, or autoimmune, diabetes research in the country, and is one of the most significant non-profit organizations worldwide focusing on T1D and autoimmune diabetes research, according to Dr. Coronel. This five-year award empowers the pursuit of novel, non-invasive methods to enhance cell replacement therapies and is based on non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of oxygen at the implant side as a means to examine engraftment or the survival and function of the cells over time.
“We have engineered nanoprobes capable of sensing oxygen in vivo, allowing us to monitor vascular remodeling non-invasively,” explained Dr. Coronel. “By understanding how transplanted beta cells fare over time, we aim to develop predictive algorithms to improve engraftment outcomes.”
Dr. Coronel’s research focuses on the use of innovative nanotechnology, specifically designed to track how oxygen levels influence the viability and functionality of transplanted beta cells. This work paves the way toward understanding the complex biological cues necessary for successful engraftment and long-term survival of both primary and stem cell-derived beta cells.
“Our ultimate goal is to perform this kind of monitoring as a predictive tool to support new immunotherapies,” Dr. Coronel said, highlighting the potential of her work to validate existing cell therapies and provide crucial insights into mitigating the disease’s autoimmune impacts.
“It’s always an honor to receive any award, but I think a career development award from BT1D highlights the importance of the research and what we’re doing,” Dr. Coronel said. “Because they have a big portfolio of people who are focused on diabetes research, they choose the types of projects that they think could have the biggest impact in the clinic at some point. Being recognized as a career awardee for them highlights the translational potential of the research that we do.”
In addition to the BT1D award, Dr. Coronel has also been recognized by the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, which is a nonprofit and educational foundation committed to the treatment and prevention of both Type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This one-year, seed-funding grant supports high-risk, high-reward research aimed at eliminating the need for chronic immunosuppression in T1D treatment. Dr. Coronel’s groundbreaking work explores using nanomaterials to deliver immunomodulatory ligands as a means of preventing cell rejection.
“We’re developing nanoparticles capable of carrying proteins that interact with the immune system in innovative ways,” Dr. Coronel explained. “This research examines how the immune system perceives these materials and how we can enhance the immune response to immunomodulatory proteins in a cost-effective and novel manner.”
The dual grants underscore how these complementary projects address critical challenges in beta cell transplantation. While oxygen-sensing capabilities offer a means to evaluate and enhance cell engraftment success, nanoparticle-facilitated immunomodulation aims to mitigate an ever-present barrier—immune rejection.
“Both projects work toward making beta cell replacement an accessible cure or therapy for all those with T1D,” said Dr. Coronel. “Addressing these challenges opens up opportunities for more patients to benefit from such transformative therapies.”
Dr. Coronel’s pursuit stems from her background in oxygen delivery systems, where she now leverages this knowledge to track physiological changes via oxygen levels, particularly under immune attack. Her work focuses on advancing therapeutic approaches for existing patients and innovating predictive strategies for broader applications in autoimmune diseases.
The Breakthrough T1D and Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation’s support not only highlights the clinical promise of Dr. Coronel’s research but also emphasizes the importance of translatable methods that eventually can reach patients. For Dr. Coronel, it’s an acknowledgment of her work’s potential impact—a step closer to offering therapeutic hope to millions worldwide living with T1D.
“Can we improve therapies and make them better?” Dr. Coronel asked. “This question drives my research.”