Research Overview

Dr. Thrailkill has acquired approximately 20 years of experience with clinical and translational research involving Type 1 Diabetes. Her investigator-initiated efforts over the past 15 years have involved studies examining dysregulation of the growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and IGF-binding protein axis in T1DM and implications of this dysregulation for both glycemic control and diabetic complications. Other funded research has included studies of the feasibility and efficacy of delivering diabetes health care to rural regions. Dr. Thrailkill has conducted translational work in T1DM, specifically examining the role of hormonal deficiencies of insulin and IGF-I, as they exist in T1DM, in the pathogenesis of diabetic osteoporosis, and diabetes-induced abnormalities in new bone formation and bone regeneration. In addition, she has extensive experience in the conduct of clinical trials examining novel therapeutic approaches to T1DM, including studies examining the efficacy of 1) co-therapy with rhIGF-I + insulin; 2) inhaled insulin; and 3) early intervention with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (“insulin pump”) therapy.

Dr. Thrailkill also has a long-standing interest in Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and has reported on how these proteinases are involved in physiology and pathophysiology in both animals as well as in human studies. She has previously reported that MMPs function as insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-degrading proteinases both in vitro and in vivo, and over the past 10 years, studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that MMPs can function to release or enhance growth factor action in cells and tissues. In the past 7 years, her studies have also focused on dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in T1DM and specifically on the role of MMPs in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Key Publications*

Thrailkill, K.M., Bunn, R.C., Moreau, C.S., Cockrell, G.E., Simpson, P.M., Coleman, H.N., Frindik, J.P., Kemp, S.F., Fowlkes, J.L.: MMP-2 dysregulation in Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Submitted, Diabetes Care. In press.

Fowlkes, J.L., Thrailkill, K.M., Liu, L., Wahl, E.C., Bunn, R.C., Cockrell, G.E., Perrien, D.S., Skinner, R.A., Coleman, H., Aronson, J., Lumpkin, C.K. Jr.: Effects of systemic and local administration of recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) on de novo bone formation in an aged mouse model. J Bone Mineral Res; 21(9): 1359-1366, 2006.

*To find additional publications by this author, please visit Pubmed Central, a National Institutes of Health-operated site for electronic distribution of life sciences research reports.

Research Support

Principal Investigator, NIH – NIDDK, RO1, Matrix metalloproteinases and diabetic nephropathy

Co-Investigator, NIH-NIDDK, RO1, Physiology of IGFBP-degrading proteinases in bone

UAMS/ACHRI site PI, NIH-NIDDK, Clinical Subcontract for Multi-center study- Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, Natural History Study of the Development of Type 1 Diabetes

UAMS/ACHRI site PI, NIH-NIDDK and JDRF; Fee for Service Agreement for Multicenter study, Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium

Principal Investigator, Dean’s/CUMG Research Development Fund – ACHRI, Preservation of pancreatic beta cell function through insulin pump therapy.

Principal Investigator, Dean’s/CUMG Research Development Fund – ACHRI, The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Diabetic Nephropathy: Animal Modeling of Disease