Clonal expansion as a marker of disease activity in early type 1 diabetes
Official title: Clonal expansion: a marker of disease activity in stage 1 T1D
Funded at Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason · NIH-11348914 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at whether expanding islet antigen–specific T and B cells can signal disease activity in early type 1 diabetes and help predict progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,259,153 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140792-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348914 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Stage 1 T1D (two or more islet autoantibodies) or those at risk due to autoantibody status, enrolled in TrialNet pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not in Stage 1 or without islet autoantibodies may not benefit from this biomarker-focused study.
What this research studies
Type 1 diabetes begins with immune attacks on insulin-producing cells, even before blood sugar changes are evident. This project tests if the clonal expansion of islet antigen–reactive T and B cells serves as a stable early biomarker of disease activity in Stage 1 T1D. By studying well-characterized samples from TrialNet, researchers will compare individuals with stable versus changing autoantibody profiles and those who progress to later stages. The work builds on existing expertise in islet antigen–specific immune cells and aims to link cellular changes to disease progression ideas. If successful, this could lead to new ways to monitor and possibly intervene early in the disease course.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from earlier and more precise monitoring of disease activity and progression risk in Stage 1 T1D.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in T1D has shown immune cell dynamics relate to disease activity, but this study seeks a more precise biomarker with clonal expansion data.
Where this research is happening
-
Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Long, S Alice — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Long, S Alice
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.