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Research

Brayman Lab

Project 1: Polyclonal IgM for Type 1 Diabetes

The team has demonstrated that IgM therapy can prevent, halt, and even reverse Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) while also prolonging islet graft survival. They have identified key mechanisms involving regulatory T cell induction and beta cell recovery, and have optimized IgM for clinical translation. This work has been supported by multiple grants and published in high-impact journals.

Publications 

Project 2: Ultra-sensitive Proteomics for T1D Prediction and Treatment Efficacy

The team applied proteomics to identify biomarkers that predict the onset, recurrence, and therapeutic efficacy of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). They integrated human and animal data with bioinformatics to enable translational applications. This research has been supported by Department of Defense and foundation grants and has been presented at national and international conferences. It has also resulted in a patent filing and ongoing manuscript submissions. In addition, the team is conducting a microbiome project to identify microbial signatures predictive of Type 1 Diabetes.

Publications

Project 3a & 3b: The Role of IL-13 & Adenosine A2A Receptor Agonists in Enhancing Islet Transplantation Outcomes

Project 3a: The Role of IL-13 in Enhancing Islet Transplantation Outcomes
The team investigated IL-13 as an immunomodulator to enhance graft survival in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) transplantation models. Their studies demonstrated improved engraftment, increased immune tolerance, and reduced inflammation. They have filed a provisional patent and presented these findings at major scientific conferences. Ongoing mechanistic studies continue to explore the specific actions of IL-13.

Project 3b: The Role of Adenosine A2A receptor agonists in Enhancing Islet Transplantation Outcomes

Publications

  • Chhabra P, Linden J, Lobo P, Okusa MD, Brayman KL*. The immunosuppressive role of adenosine A2A receptors in ischemia reperfusion injury and islet transplantation. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2012 Nov;8(6):419-33. PMCID: PMC4209001.
  • Chhabra P, Wang K, Zeng Q, Jecmenica M, Langman L, Linden J, Ketchum RJ, Brayman KL*. Adenosine A(2A) agonist administration improves islet transplant outcome: Evidence for the role of innate immunity in islet graft rejection. Cell Transplant.2010; 19(5):597-612. doi: 10.3727/09636891 0X491806. Epub 2010 Mar 26. PMID: 20350347.
  • Sharma A, Kinsey G, Chhabra P, Brayman KL, French BA, Glover DK, Laubach VE. Adenosine Receptors: Pharmacology, Functions and Therapeutic Aspects. 1 ed. Warrick K, editor. New York: NOVA Science Publishers; Nova Biomedical; December 2014. Chapter 1, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunosuppressive Actions of Adenosine A2A Receptor in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury after Organ Transplantation. p. 1-36. ISBN: 978-1-63463-454-0. https://novapublishers.com/shop/adenosine-receptors-pharmacology-functions-and-therapeutic-aspects/

Project 4: Establishing the BSL3 Facility for COVID-19 Research

The team co-developed and secured funding for UVA’s BSL3 core and SARS-CoV-2 animal models. They led preclinical studies evaluating IgM and A2AR agonist therapies in both healthy and diabetic models. Their work has resulted in published findings, filed patents, and collaborations across multiple institutions. The current focus includes advancing IgM immunotherapy in high-risk diabetic COVID-19 models.

Publications

Project 5a & 5b: Biomaterial Scaffolds for Islet Cell Survival

Project 5a : Dual Immunomodulatory Scaffold for Beta Cell Survival
The team developed MAP gel–based scaffolds to enhance islet graft survival and promote immune tolerance. They also created IL-33–functionalized MAP platforms designed to reduce inflammation and expand regulatory T cells. This work has been supported by joint grants, peer-reviewed publications, and a provisional patent. Future studies will explore the use of stem cell–derived insulin-producing cells within MAP scaffolds.

Publications

  • Roosa CA, Ma M, Chhabra P, Brayman K, Griffin D. Delivery of Dissociated Islets Cells within Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold to Treat Type 1 Diabetes. Adv Ther (Weinh). 2022 Sep;5(9):2200064. doi: 10.1002/adtp.202200064. Epub 2022 Jul 2. PMID: 36405778; PMCID: PMC9674036.
  • Delivery of Dissociated Islets Cells within Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold to Treat Type 1 Diabetes. Inventors: Donald Richieri Griffin, Colleen Roosa, Mingyang Ma, Preeti Chhabra, Kenneth Brayman. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/323,650 filed on March 25, 2022; International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2023/065006 filed on March 27, 2023.

Project 5b. Utilizing a electrospinning technique to produce a biomaterial scaffold for promoting islet survival.

Publications

  • Bowers DT, Chhabra P, Langman L, Botchwey EA, Brayman KL, FTY720-loaded poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) electrospun scaffold significantly increases microvessel density over 7 days in streptozotocin-induced diabetic C57b16/J mice: preliminary results., 2011; Transplantation proceedings. 43(9) 3285-7. PMID: 22099778
  • Bowers DT, Olingy CE, Chhabra P, Langman L, Merrill PH, Linhart RS, Tanes ML, Lin D, Brayman KL, Botchwey EA*. An engineered macroencapsulation membrane releasing FTY720 to precondition pancreatic islet transplantation. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2018 Feb;106(2):555-568. PMID: 28240814

Project 6: Human Islet Isolation for Type 1 Diabetes Transplantation

The team contributed to an FDA-approved IND protocol for human islet isolation under GMP standards. They ensured quality control through rigorous viability, function, and safety assays. Their work has supported clinical islet transplantation and a range of translational research applications. These efforts have resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications that advance Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) therapy.

Publications

  • Chhabra P, Brayman KL*. Current Assessment of Clinical Pancreatic Islet Allotransplantation. OBM Transplantation. 2020 November; 4(4):32. doi:10.21926/obm.transplant.2004125
  • Chhabra P, Brayman KL. Overcoming barriers in clinical islet transplantation: current limitations and future prospects. Curr Probl Surg. 2014 Feb;51(2):49-86. PMID: 24411187
  • Ramesh A, Chhabra P, Brayman KL. Pancreatic islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes mellitus: an update on recent developments. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2013 Jul;9(4):294-311.
  • Chhabra P, Brayman KL*. Current status of immunomodulatory and cellular therapies in preclinical and clinical islet transplantation. J Transplant. 2011;2011:637692. PMID: 23721158
  • Preeti Chhabra, Clark D. Kensinger, Daniel J. Moore and Kenneth L. Brayman (2011). Present Accomplishments and Future Prospects of Cell-Based Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In: Type 1 Diabetes - Pathogenesis, Genetics and Immunotherapy [Chapter 14, p. 295-336], Prof. David Wagner (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-362-0, InTech, Nov. 25, 2011, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/22343.

Project 7: Lacritin Project for Beta Cell Proliferation in Type 1 Diabetes

The team is identifying the role of Lacripep and its analogs in preventing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and promoting islet transplantation. This work is supported by several grants and a patent.

Publications

  • Ma M*, Chhabra P*, Cook JH, Laurie,GW, Brayman KL*. Precision Medicine in Surgery: Immunomodulation and Cellular Regeneration Strategies for Immunologic and Surgical Diseases. Accepted for publication in Annals of Surgery. PMID: 40698837. *Both first authors.