Autoimmune diabetes linked to cancer immunotherapy: discovering causes and biomarkers
Official title: Immune checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Autoimmune Diabetes: Immunological Mechanisms and Biomarker Discovery in Provoked Beta Cell Autoimmunity
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11415176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores why some people on cancer immunotherapy develop autoimmune diabetes and aims to find biomarkers to predict and prevent it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,587 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI193076-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415176 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors who may be at risk of developing autoimmune diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors or without risk of CPI-induced autoimmunity may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
People receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer may develop autoimmune diabetes, sometimes severely. The research uses genetic studies, high-throughput methods to find new autoantigens, and single-cell analyses to map immune cell behavior and gene activity. The goal is to uncover triggers and signatures that could guide prevention or treatment of this form of diabetes while advancing precision care for cancer patients. If successful, the work could lead to tests and targeted therapies to reduce risk and improve outcomes for patients and survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding and potential way to prevent or treat CPI-induced autoimmune diabetes for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked CPIs to endocrinopathies, with some success in identifying autoimmune mechanisms, but this project aims for deeper mechanistic and biomarker insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quandt, Zoe — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Quandt, Zoe
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.