University of Florida · BiologyPancreatic Health and Diabetes Research Unit
Mark A. Atkinson · Gainesville, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Mark A. Atkinson's lab focuses on understanding how the pancreas changes during the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The research explores how both immune responses and changes within pancreas cells lead to the disease. By studying human pancreas samples, the lab aims to identify specific molecular pathways and potential treatments to improve pancreatic function and prevent T1D progression.
type 1 diabetespancreas functioncellular imagingsingle cell RNA sequencingmolecular profilingexocrine pancreasinsulin processingdiabetogenic stimuliimmunologycell phenotyping
Research Aims
5AIM 01Assess islet and acinar tissue function in type 1 diabetes and healthy controls
AIM 02Investigate the cellular and molecular characteristics of pancreas cells during T1D progression
AIM 03Analyze the impact of beta cell stress interventions on pancreatic function
AIM 04Utilize advanced imaging techniques to visualize immune cell interactions in pancreas slices
AIM 05Develop a comprehensive understanding of the pancreatic microenvironment in relation to disease mechanisms.
Skills the Lab Values
Pancreas slice cultureFlow cytometrySingle cell RNA sequencingImaging mass cytometryLive cellular imagingStatistical analysisCell culture techniquesMolecular biology techniquesHistological techniques3D tissue modeling
Output against the department
Publications1,053top 1% of dept.12th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations61ktop 3% of dept.33rd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.