Tracking Early Signs of Type 1 Diabetes
Clonal expansion: a marker of disease activity in stage 1 T1D
This project aims to understand how certain immune cells behave in people who are in the very early stages of Type 1 Diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134746 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Type 1 Diabetes begins even before symptoms appear, marked by the presence of certain autoantibodies in the blood. However, the number and type of these autoantibodies can change over time, making it difficult to precisely track early disease activity. This project seeks to discover if specific changes in immune cells, called clonal expansion, can serve as a more reliable indicator of disease activity in the earliest stage of Type 1 Diabetes. We will examine blood samples from individuals participating in the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study to compare immune cell behavior in those with stable versus changing autoantibodies, and in those who progress to later stages of the disease versus those who do not. This work helps us better understand the very first steps of Type 1 Diabetes development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals in stage 1 Type 1 Diabetes, characterized by the presence of two or more islet-specific autoantibodies without overt dysglycemia.
Not a fit: Patients who have already progressed beyond stage 1 Type 1 Diabetes may not directly benefit from this specific early biomarker research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to identify individuals at high risk of progressing to later stages of Type 1 Diabetes, potentially allowing for earlier interventions.
How similar studies have performed: While the underlying methods for identifying immune cells are established, using clonal expansion as a stable early biomarker for disease activity in stage 1 Type 1 Diabetes is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Long, S Alice — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Long, S Alice
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.