Daniela Nasteska

      As a fundamental process, protein synthesis in pancreatic beta cells sustains their structure and function. My Diabetes UK-funded project explores protein synthesis dynamics in pancreatic islets over time and across beta cell population, searching for subpopulations with differential synthesis. The study aims to clarify the mechanisms that define total protein turnover, thus widening T2D treatment options with drugs modulating protein synthesis and ultimately beta cell function and survival.

Background: I trained as a medical doctor in Macedonia and transitioned to research during my PhD studies. I earned my PhD in Japan, at the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Kyoto University. My work there centred around incretin pathophysiology in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Following PhD completion, I moved to the Centre for Diabetes Research at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium, where I worked on mechanisms underlying premature beta cell death in type 2 diabetes. After moving to the University of Birmingham, I widened my scope of research with the following projects: beta cell heterogeneity and its importance in sustaining normal insulin secretion, describing key factors managing glucose metabolism in beta cells and longitudinal assessment of protein turnover in islets.