Richard Cox

The Cox Lab explores the intricate biology of pancreatic islets, which orchestrate blood glucose control, and their role in metabolism, diabetes, and obesity. At the heart of this system are the insulin-producing beta cells, whose dysfunction or loss drives both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Our mission is twofold: to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to beta cell death and dysfunction, and to develop pharmacologic and cellular therapies to restore functional beta cell mass. Our research spans fundamental biology to translational approaches. We investigate how nutrient and hormone signals shape beta cell metabolism, survival, and regeneration. Current projects include: (1) transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial function, survival, and proliferation in beta cells; (2) how nutrient and inflammatory signals acting on islet delta cells shape their identity, regulate somatostatin secretion, and alter paracrine signaling within the islet; and (3) pathways that promote stem cell-derived beta cell differentiation and maturation. We also collaborate on studies of circadian regulation, viral gene delivery for beta cell expansion, and cross-organ metabolic signaling.