Westacott receives Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)

Matthew Westacott, a PhD student in bioengineering mentored by Richard Benninger has been awarded a F31 pre-doctoral fellowship by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Matthews project titled “Examination of Functional Subpopulations in the Islet of Langerhans Using Optogenetics” will use light-activated ion channels to precisely control and understand the spatiotemporal regulation of electrical activity within the islets of Langerhans. Matthew will specifically study how subpopulations of β-cells exert disproportionate control over the system electrical dynamics and insulin release, and how this  control is disrupted under diabetic conditions.