Finding past infections linked to early type 1 diabetes using whole-protein antibody arrays

Whole Protein Arrays to Detect Antimicrobial Antibodies Associated with Triggering and Progression of Islet Autoimmunity in TEDDY

NIH-funded research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11182714

Using broad protein antibody testing on samples from children in the TEDDY birth cohort to find past infections that might trigger early islet autoimmunity.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionArizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Scottsdale, United States)
Project IDNIH-11182714 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will screen blood samples from children enrolled in the TEDDY birth cohort for antibodies to many bacteria and viruses using high-throughput whole-protein arrays. These arrays test immune responses to full proteins and many antigen fragments to increase the chance of detecting past infections. The team will compare antibody patterns in children who develop islet autoantibodies or type 1 diabetes with those who do not to look for microbes linked to increased or decreased risk. The project combines proteomics, metagenomics, and advanced statistics to build a broad picture of infection exposure related to T1D risk.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are children enrolled in the TEDDY birth cohort, especially those with genetic risk for type 1 diabetes or who develop islet autoantibodies.

Not a fit: Adults, people not part of the TEDDY cohort, or those without available TEDDY samples are unlikely to participate or directly benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific infections that trigger or protect against type 1 diabetes and guide future prevention or early-detection efforts.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has suggested links between certain viruses and T1D but results were mixed, and this comprehensive whole‑protein antibody array approach is newer and less tested at large scale.

Where this research is happening

Scottsdale, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autoimmune Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.