معرفی
Peter Thorn is the Chair in Molecular and Cellular Physiology at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences and a member of the Charles Perkins Centre. He leads the Peter Thorn Laboratory, which focuses on diabetes research through three primary projects: 1) Vascular targeting of insulin secretion using advanced imaging and molecular biology, 2) Disease mechanisms in prediabetes and diabetes using human and mouse islets, and 3) Engineering stem cell therapies for diabetes cure. His research integrates fluorescence imaging, electron microscopy, and molecular techniques to study pancreatic beta-cell function.
Education includes:
- PhD from University of Edinburgh (1983-1986)
- MSc Neurophysiology from University of Edinburgh (1982-1983)
- BSc Zoology/Psychology from University of Nottingham (1979-1982)
Research spans diabetes mechanisms, insulin secretion regulation, and beta-cell polarization, with strong emphases on cellular signaling pathways, islet vasculature interactions, and stem cell engineering. Recent work demonstrates beta cells structurally polarize insulin secretion toward capillaries, with disruptions in diabetes models. Key approaches include live-cell imaging, proteomics, and biomaterial interfaces for cell therapies.
Publications since 2020 show concentrated focus on: 1) Beta-cell structural/functional polarization in diabetes, 2) Molecular controls of insulin granule dynamics, 3) Stem cell-derived beta-cell maturation, and 4) Advanced imaging techniques for islet analysis. Machine learning applications enhance spatial analysis of insulin secretion patterns.
Current grants include:
- 'The endocrine synapse: A novel mechanism for insulin secretion' (Bioscientifica Trust)
- 'Novel microcluster approach for beta cell function' (JDRF)
- 'Optimizing implant surfaces for diabetes treatment' (NSW Boosting Innovation)
- 'NHMRC Project Grants on beta-cell apical domains and insulin granule aging'
