Mesenchymal stem cell particles to calm the immune attack in type 1 diabetes
Engineered extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes
This project will use tiny particles made from mesenchymal stem cells to try to reduce the immune attack on insulin-producing cells in people with type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324559 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses tiny extracellular vesicles (small particles made by mesenchymal stem cells) that researchers engineer to carry immune-calming proteins such as PD-L1 and tests them in laboratory and animal models of type 1 diabetes. The goal is to stop the immune system from destroying insulin-producing beta cells without using virus-modified cells that carry higher risks. The team will study how these vesicles affect immune cells, beta cell survival, and whether they improve outcomes when combined with anti-CD3 antibody treatment. If the preclinical results are promising, the approach could move toward early human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes or individuals at high risk who still have some remaining beta cell function.
Not a fit: People with long-standing type 1 diabetes who have little or no remaining beta cell function are less likely to receive benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a safer, cell-free way to reduce immune attack and help preserve insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Nonbinding anti-CD3 antibody treatments have shown clinical benefits for some patients and PD-1/PD-L1 approaches worked in animal models, but engineered extracellular vesicles are a newer strategy with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
College Station, United States
- Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr — College Station, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Ryang Hwa — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lee, Ryang Hwa
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 below.