Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages Any age to 70

Understanding extremely early-onset type 1 diabetes in infants

Official title: Understanding Beta-cell Destruction Through the Study of EXtremely Early-onset Type 1 Diabetes (A Musketeers' Memorandum Study)

Run by University of Exeter · NCT03369821 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study looks at infants diagnosed with extremely early-onset type 1 diabetes to see how their immune systems and genes differ from those with typical diabetes, hoping to better understand this rare condition.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
AgesAny age to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment300 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Exeter
Academic / other
Locations4 sites (Seattle, Washington and 3 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 19, 2017
Main results expectedOctober 31, 2028
Study endsNovember 30, 2028
Registry record updatedDecember 19, 2025
Trial IDNCT03369821 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include infants and young children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before the age of 2, as well as older individuals with a clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

Probably not a fit

Patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after the age of 20 or those with confirmed genetic mutations causing non-autoimmune neonatal diabetes may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This observational study focuses on infants diagnosed with extremely early-onset type 1 diabetes (EET1D) before the age of 2. Researchers aim to investigate the unique autoimmune mechanisms that lead to this rare form of diabetes by analyzing the immune system and genetic factors in affected individuals. The study will include both EET1D patients and control groups with typical type 1 diabetes and monogenic diabetes to compare immune function and genetic risk scores. Insights gained from this research may help to unravel the complexities of type 1 diabetes and its early onset.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to a better understanding of the causes of type 1 diabetes, potentially informing early interventions and treatments.

How similar studies have gone: While studies on type 1 diabetes exist, this specific focus on extremely early-onset cases is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Study 1:

EET1D

* Aged 0 to 70 years
* Clinical diagnosis of diabetes \<24 months (+ evidence of WHO diabetes criteria)
* Negative genetic test for mutations causing non-autoimmune neonatal diabetes if diagnosed \<12 months
* Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score \>50th centile of T1D reference group, or monogenic cause of T1D.

T1D Controls

* Age 0-70 years (matched to above)
* Clinical diagnosis of T1D (diagnosed age 1-20 years)
* Insulin treated from diagnosis.

Monogenic / NDM controls

* Diagnosis of diabetes \<12 months
* Diagnosis of monogenic / NDM (confirmed by Exeter Molecular Genetics Laboratory).

Study 2:

EET1D

* Aged 0 to 24 months at recruitment
* Clinical diagnosis of diabetes \<24 months (+ evidence of WHO diabetes criteria)
* Negative genetic test for mutations causing non-autoimmune neonatal diabetes
* Type 1 diabetes genetic risk score \>50th centile of T1D reference group, or monogenic cause of T1D.

Monogenic/NDM controls

* Diagnosis of diabetes \<24 months
* Age 0 to 18 months at recruitment
* Diagnosis of monogenic/NDM (confirmed by Exeter Molecular Genetics Laboratory).

Non-diabetic controls

* Aged 0-6 years
* Attending specified participating hospital sites for elective surgery, including but not limited to: inguinal hernia repair, umbilical/midline hernia repair, orchidopexy, gastrostomy insertion/change, hypospadias repair, cleft palate repair, excision of accessory digit, laryngoscopy, adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, MRI under general anaesthesia, eye surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

Study 1:

* Aged \>70 years
* No diagnosis of diabetes
* MODY (e.g. caused by HNF1A/HNF4A/HNF1B/GCK mutations), type 2 diabetes or diabetes related to pancreatic insufficiency or syndromic diabetes
* Intercurrent illness at time of sampling for PBMCs (see below).

Study 2:

* Aged \>24 months
* Clinical diagnosis of diabetes \>24 months
* Intercurrent illness at time of sampling for PBMCs or RNA (see below).

Non-diabetic controls:

* Aged \>6 years
* Diagnosis of diabetes or other autoimmune condition
* Known immunological disorder
* On immunosuppressive medication
* Ongoing infections/sepsis
* Major congenital abnormality or significant systemic illness that may affect the immune system, e.g. metabolic disease, 22q deletion syndrome
* Recent (within two weeks) febrile illness
* Renal failure.

For PBMC and RNA sampling: Exclusion for factors that may alter T cell function and RNAseq

Review the following exclusion criteria carefully at time of appointment as some details may have changed since initial contact:

* Recreational drug use (excluding cannabis use more than 1 week prior to blood sampling) - drug abuse may alter T cell function
* Alcohol related illness (excessive alcohol consumption may alter T cell function)
* Renal failure: Creatinine \>200 (as may alter T cell function)
* Any other medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would affect the safety of the subject's participation.

Factors that if temporary would lead to rearrangement of study visit but if long duration, may lead to exclusion subject to the CI's discretion:

* Pregnant or lactating (as this may limit blood sampling and affect T cell function)
* Any infectious illness within the last 2 weeks if it was a febrile illness, or within 2-3 days if it was non-febrile (as this may activate T cells non-specifically)
* Taking steroids or other immunosuppressive medications (as these may alter T cell function)
* Received any immunoglobulin treatments or blood products in the last 3 months (as these may alter T cell function).

Where it's running

  • Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
    Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
    Recruiting
  • Benaroya Research Institute
    Seattle, Washington, United States
    Not yet recruiting
  • Leiden University Medical Center
    Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
    Not yet recruiting
  • King's College London
    London, United Kingdom
    Active not recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Monitoring glucose levels to predict diabetes in at-risk individuals

    This study is testing if continuous glucose monitoring can help predict type 1 diabetes in young people who are at risk because they have certain antibodies in their blood.

    Recruiting at 6 sites Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel · Liège, Liège and 5 other locations · NCT05777330

  • National Diabetes Management Program in China

    This study is trying to create a nationwide database to help improve the care and understanding of diabetes in China by collecting health information and samples from patients.

    Recruiting Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine · Multiple Locations · NCT03811470

  • Understanding the genetics of autoimmune responses in type 1 diabetes

    This study is trying to understand how genes and the environment affect the development of type 1 diabetes by looking at families with a history of the disease and healthy individuals.

    Recruiting Medical College of Wisconsin · Milwaukee, Wisconsin · NCT03648918

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.