Katrina Viloria

Biography

I completed my undergraduate BSc degree in Biology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. I then moved to the UK to acquire my Masters in Biotechnology at Kingston University London. It was also at Kingston that I continued my research to pursue a PhD investigating SPARC matricellular proteins and their role in beta cell function and insulin secretion. Following my PhD, I came to the University of Birmingham as a Post Doc where I studied the role of GC-globulin/ vitamin-D binding protein in alpha cell function and glucagon secretion.

At the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, my current research investigates the role of actin regulating proteins in controlling GLP1-R signaling and trafficking. Using mouse models that express tagged GLP1-R and super resolution imaging, I am interested in studying actin binding proteins as a tool to target GLP1-R signaling in beta cells. GLP1-R binds to GLP-1 agonists, which are important treatment for type 2 diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms of GLP1-R signaling may help us improve the action of GLP-1 therapeutics.

Research Interests
diabetes, GLP1-R, insulin secretion