Improving immune therapy for Type 1 diabetes
Official title: Enhancing antigen-based therapy for T1D by T cell coreceptor tuning
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10739303 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for Type 1 diabetes that helps your body protect the insulin-making cells by boosting a special part of your immune system, and it’s designed for people with T1D who want better ways to manage their condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | November 11, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $194,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI166876-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10739303 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes or those in the early stages of the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established Type 1 diabetes who are not in the early stages may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new immunotherapy for Type 1 diabetes (T1D) by enhancing the body's immune response to protect insulin-producing cells. The approach involves administering specific proteins from these cells to stimulate the production of regulatory T cells, which can help control the autoimmune response that damages these cells. By tuning the function of a key immune receptor, the researchers aim to increase the effectiveness of this therapy while minimizing harmful immune reactions. This innovative method could lead to long-term management or prevention of T1D.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new way to prevent or treat Type 1 diabetes, reducing the need for daily insulin injections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using immunotherapies to target autoimmune responses, suggesting that this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tisch, Roland M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Tisch, Roland M
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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.