LEGO: Light-induced Expression of GLP-1 and Insulin for Obesity and diabetes treatment
LEGO — Light-induced GLP-1 & Insulin expression
Spatiotemporally precise optogenetic control of metabolic hormones for combined obesity & diabetes therapy — light-activated, reversible, and programmable.
Diabetes has become a global pandemic, currently impacting 1 in 10 adults!!
Specifically, it is affecting over 537 million adults (20-79 years), which accounts for approximately 10.5% of the world's adult population. The burden is most severe in the Middle East and North Africa, where several countries report prevalence rates exceeding 20%, highlighting a critical and urgent public health challenge.
Source: WHO and IDF Diabetes Atlas
Diabetes prevalence snapshot (2020–2025)
Adults aged 20–79. Data compiled from the IDF Diabetes Atlas (2024) with supporting context from IHME GBD and NCD-RisC analyses.
Global trend (2020–2025)
Sources: International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas (2024) — global, China, India, USA data; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease (2023); The Lancet / NCD-RisC press coverage (2024). Accessed 29 September 2025.
Current diabetes treatments mainly involve insulin injections or oral medications. But people suffer from pain, high dosage and frequency, plus the hassle of strict scheduling.
However, being addicted to sugar is an intrinsic biological characteristic of human beings. In order to enable diabetes patients and other human beings to enjoy deserts, we need to find a practical solution for diabetes!
GLP-1 is invented!!
GLP-1 synergies with insulin to achieve dual regulation via the "gut-pancreatic axis": intelligently promotes insulin secretion while inhibiting glucagon, simultaneously.
This precisely targeting the core pathological mechanisms of hyperglycemia and obesity through dual pathways.
Our Solution
We combine the iLID-sspB optogenetic dimerization system with engineered expression cassettes for GLP-1 and Insulin. Light triggers rapid nuclear translocation and controlled hormone expression — enabling temporally precise, minimally invasive regulation.
Optogenetic Precision
Fast, reversible control over nuclear localisation using blue-light responsive iLID-sspB dimerizers — precise to minutes and microns.
Dual-action Therapeutics
Simultaneous GLP-1 expression to target obesity and insulin production for glycemic control — a combined therapeutic strategy.
Programmable & Safe
Light dosing, spatial confinement, and modular genetic constructs for on-demand therapy with reduced systemic exposure.
Translational Aims
Focus on minimally invasive delivery, wearable LED-based light sources, and preclinical safety profiling pathways.
Ready to dive deeper?
Read the full project description, protocols, and data.