Dr. Imai aims to understand the mechanism underlying pancreatic b-cell failure in type 2 diabetes, including how lipid droplet proteins optimize intracellular lipid metabolism to support insulin secretion and mechanisms of islet inflammation. Her group discovered that the lipid droplet protein perilipin 5 plays an important role in supporting insulin secretion, and that it does so by regulating the metabolism of b-cell lipids. Her laboratory is defining the molecular targets of perilipin 5 act in augmenting insulin secretion, and her recruitment to the Center adds considerable strength to its CFRD research, given the links between pancreatic inflammation/fibrosis/adipogenesis and islet function in the CF ferret model.