Priye Iworima is developing protocols for converting stem cells into beta cells that produce insulin and secrete insulin from the pancreas. A PhD student in the Kieffer Lab, her aim is to generate a functional cure for diabetes.
During her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Iworima studied neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on understanding a dysfunction that can occur in brain cells in Parkinson’s disease. Fascinated by the underlying causes of disease states, she she began working with Dr. Timothy Kieffer, and got hooked on diabetes research.
Now pursuing her PhD in the School of Biomedical Engineering, she is not only trying to make stems into insulin-producing cells, she’s also trying to figure out how to scale the approach for commercialization.
“If our research is successful, the impact would be unbelievable. The peace of mind for anyone living with Type 1 diabetes and their family members who worry about them — I’m motivated to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.” – Priye Iworima
Read the full profile of Iworima and her research on the UBC website.