Detailed viral exposure testing in children at risk for type 1 diabetes
Official title: High-resolution, virome-wide infection analysis in type 1 diabetes birth cohorts
Funded at Translational Genomics Research Inst · NIH-11099979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a new blood-based test to look for past viral infections in children from type 1 diabetes birth cohorts to find links between viruses and later diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Translational Genomics Research Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,178,146 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140795-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants and young children enrolled in type 1 diabetes birth cohorts (such as TEDDY or ENDIA) or children with genetic markers conferring higher T1D risk.
✕Less likely to help
People without genetic risk for type 1 diabetes, adults already living with established T1D, or those not enrolled in the listed birth cohorts are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If my child is enrolled in one of the birth cohorts, researchers will use stored blood samples taken over time to look for antibodies against many different viruses. They will use a new high-throughput method called PepSeq that reads immune memory (antibodies) rather than only detecting viruses during symptoms. By comparing children who later develop type 1 diabetes with those who do not, the team hopes to identify viral exposure patterns tied to disease risk. The work uses large international cohorts (TEDDY in the US/Europe and ENDIA in Australia) to improve the chance of finding meaningful signals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific viral exposures that raise the risk of type 1 diabetes and point toward prevention or early-intervention strategies for high-risk children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have suggested links between some viral infections and T1D but were limited in size or sensitivity, and this high-resolution, serology-based approach is novel at this scale.
Where this research is happening
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Translational Genomics Research Inst
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altin, John — Translational Genomics Research Inst
- Study coordinator: Altin, John
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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.