Shareen Forbes Research Group

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Professor Shareen Forbes

Professor of Diabetic Medicine

Lead Physician Islet Transplant Programme Scotland

Visiting Professor Edmonton Islet Transplant Programme

Research

My laboratory is interested in the pathogenesis of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and the potential mechanisms behind beta cell dysregulation and function which contribute to clinical disease. My laboratory also investigates how the progression of complications in diabetes are affected by different therapies. A major research interest is in clinical islet transplantation and my group conducts both cohort studies in humans with diabetes as well as laboratory based research in rodent models with diabetes.

Clinical studies:

My group examines the progression of diabetes related complications in Type 1 diabetes in subjects in relation to different treatments including islet transplantation – this work is in collaboration with the Scottish Care Information – Diabetes Collaboration linked/Scottish Diabetes Research Network National dataset, the Islet Transplantation Programme Scotland, the UK Islet Transplant Consortium and the University of Alberta, Clinical Islet Transplant Programme. My research includes the development of scoring systems for the assessment of islet transplantation outcomes.

Rodent studies:

A major focus in my research laboratory is of islet transplantation including the underlying mechanisms limiting the success of the procedure. I have established islet transplantation into rodent models including into humanised mice at the University of Edinburgh. I work collaboratively with a number of researchers to gain insights into the mechanisms behind insulin and glucagon secretion (Medical Research Scotland Project: understanding the mechanisms of insulin secretion utilising super high resolution microscopy).  I investigate the mechanisms behind islet-graft loss and aim to reduce islet loss and improve engraftment of islets in vivo using innovative therapies including cell therapy and gene-based approaches. I am actively pursuing these approaches at the clinical interface to improve long-term islet transplant outcomes. 

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For a list of up-to-date publications, please visit:

Shareen Forbes' Profile Page

Willingness to take PhD Students: Yes

Research Group Members

Other Group Members

Amelia Judge - Research Technician

June Noble - Research Technician

Tyler Morrison – Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track (ECAT) Veterinary Clinical Lecturer (1^st Supervisors: Professor Sarah Walmsley and Professor Moira Whyte, University of Edinburgh)

Rhona Muir – OPTIMA PhD Studentship (1^st supervisor: Professor Olaf Rolinski, University of Strathclyde)

Adrian Garcia Burgos – (1^st supervisor: Professor Rory Duncan, Heriot Watt University)

Sophie Walker - 4 year BHF Programme Students

Previous students and lab members

Gary Borthwick - Senior Research Technician

Paul Burgoyne - Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Mario Ilverez – PhD Student, Heriot Watt University (joint with Dr Euan Brown)

Agne Stadulyte – Post-doctoral research student, University of Edinburgh (joint with Dr Adriana Tavares)

Laura Reid – Clinical Research Fellow in Diabetes and Endocrinology