Engineering a better future for diabetes care
2025 Tucson KEYS intern AJ Shaffer (he/him) assisted the lab of Klearchos Papas in the development of a new kind of treatment for Type 1 diabetes that could free patients from daily insulin injections.
2025 Tucson KEYS intern AJ Shaffer worked under the guidance of research scientists Amy Kelly and Trisha Fabijanic to examine tissue and protein assays to see whether the implanted cells were producing insulin and staying healthy inside the body.
Emilia Gazman, BIO5 Institute
In the lab of Klearchos Papas, professor of surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, researchers are developing a new kind of treatment for Type 1 diabetes that could free patients from daily insulin injections. Their approach uses tiny capsules filled with insulin-producing cells that can be implanted under the skin. These devices are designed to restore blood sugar control without the need for full organ transplants or lifelong immune-suppressing drugs.
Tucson KEYS intern AJ Shaffer (he/him) joined the team to help test how well these devices work in lab models. Under the guidance of research scientist Amy Kelly, Shaffer examined tissue under a microscope and protein assays to see whether the implanted cells were producing insulin and staying healthy inside the body.
AJ Shaffer prepares tissue samples under the guidance of the Papas lab members.
Emilia Gazman, BIO5 Institute
Papas says students like Shaffer bring more than just extra hands to the lab.
“We always get a fresh look at things because they’re very inquisitive. This is a new generation of scientists we like to mentor.”
Kelly agrees. “Mentorship is teaching theory, teaching why it matters, teaching how it works, and then seeing how students can apply that. It’s about showing them what science looks like in the real world.”
Shaffer results helped confirm that the cell factories were doing their job, providing valuable data that supports future clinical development.
This work is also deeply personal to him.
“I have Type 1 diabetes,” said Shaffer. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’ve had to. That’s why I wanted to be in this lab. I want to work towards a real cure, not just for me, but for anyone living with this every day.
(Left to right) Klearchos Papas, AJ Shaffer, Amy Kelly and Trisha Fabijanic.
Emilia Gazman, BIO5 Institute
Take a closer look at how KEYS interns are helping advance real-world research across Arizona.