Targeting immune cells to treat type 1 diabetes
Official title: iSTAR Tregs
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10871893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help people with type 1 diabetes by using special immune cells called Tregs to protect the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and it aims to see if these engineered Tregs can work better while keeping track of their activity through a blood test.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $968,858 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK137140-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10871893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who are experiencing autoimmune aggression against their beta cells.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with type 2 diabetes or those whose diabetes is not autoimmune in nature may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to prevent and reverse autoimmune diabetes, specifically type 1 diabetes (T1D). By infusing islet-specific Tregs into patients, the goal is to control the immune response against pancreatic beta cells, which are crucial for insulin production. The study aims to enhance the effectiveness of Treg therapy by engineering these cells to specifically target beta cells and monitoring their activity through a biomarker in the blood. This approach builds on promising early-phase clinical trials that have shown the safety and feasibility of Treg therapy in T1D patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new treatment that effectively manages or even reverses type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with Treg therapy in mouse models and early-phase clinical trials, indicating potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Qizhi — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Tang, Qizhi
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.