Proteins and peptides in Type 1 Diabetes: precise tests to guide care
Official title: Robust Mass Spectrometric Protein/Peptide Assays for Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Applications
Funded at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories · NIH-11335733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is developing highly specific mass-spectrometry tests to measure insulin, glucagon, and related markers to better monitor Type 1 diabetes in children and young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richland, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $914,569 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK137113-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young adults with Type 1 diabetes or at risk of progression who would benefit from improved biomarker monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing T1D monitoring or without access to mass-spectrometry-based assays may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create reliable, proteoform-specific tests that can quantify multiple diabetes-related proteins and their variants using targeted mass spectrometry. The goal is to provide accurate markers of endocrine and exocrine function to track disease progression and response to therapies, including before and after interventions. Researchers will compare these MS-based assays to traditional antibody-based tests, addressing issues of specificity and multiplexing. The work involves assay development, validation, and benchmarking across relevant patient samples to ensure clinical applicability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precise monitoring of their diabetes and treatment responses through better biomarker tests.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for mass-spectrometry–based biomarkers but this project emphasizes multiplex, proteoform-specific panels for T1D.
Where this research is happening
-
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
Richland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qian, Wei-Jun — Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
- Study coordinator: Qian, Wei-Jun
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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.