Pancreas Functional MRI

Mapping loss of pancreas function in diabetes

The failure of pancreatic beta-cells to regulate energy homeostasis through insulin secretion is a central feature of diabetes. However, the clinical course of beta-cell failure is remarkably varied across individuals with diabetes. Still, major gaps exist in the current assessment of beta-cell physiology. Clinical decision making relies on blood measures that correlate with poor beta-cell function, such as abnormal HbA1c and fasting glucose, but these measures are non-specific, indirect measures of faltering pancreatic islet cells, representing integrated physiological effects of metabolism with additional tissues.

To address this gap in assessment tools necessary to understand the pathophysiology of diabetes, Drs. Reiter, Staimez and Vellanki are developing new magnetic resonance imaging approaches that provide direct, localized, and temporally-resolved readouts specific to pancreas endocrine function.

Functional MRI in the pancreas produces maps of metabolic activity in response to various stimuli like glucose stimulation. This allows visualization and quantification of cellular activity in specific anatomic regions like the head, body, and tail as the pancreas cells are activated over time before and after stimulation.

These investigators have partnered with the Georgia Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translational Core Center to use this technology to study changes in pancreas function in individuals with cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD).

Please click here if you would like to learn more about how you can participate as a study volunteer.

The long-term goal of this work is to establish this imaging technology and transform the evaluation of the pancreas, an otherwise inaccessible organ. Developing this tool will enable improved classification of diabetes subtypes, new characterization of diabetes progression by imaging, and new opportunities to test efficacy of interventions in the prevention and management of diabetes and related conditions.