March 2012
JDRF Cure Research
Halting the autoimmune process
and restoring normal insulin production.
Finding a Cure for T1D – Waterford Today
Global T1D research is moving at such a pace that it is bringing renewed optimism of finding a cure to
families living with T1D. Recent advances in the areas such as stem cell research, beta cell
encapsulation, and the artificial pancreas give cause for such optimism. The primary charitable funder of
this research, JDRF, recently developed a partnership with the Diabetes Federation of Ireland to
encourage high quality T1D research in Ireland and provide an opportunity for Irish people to be part of
the global work of JDRF into finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
JDRF Immune Therapy Research
Dr. Matthias von Herrath Works in Dogged Pursuit of Diabetes – La Jolla Light
In recent months, La Jolla has been the center of research “firsts” that promise to significantly advance
efforts to better understand and ultimately conquer T1D. In each case, front and center has been the work
of JDRF-funded investigator, Matthias von Herrath, M.D., director of the Center for Type 1 Diabetes
Research, at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology. In December, international headlines were
generated with the announcement of von Herrath’s creation of the first real-time movies of the cellular
destruction underlying T1D in mouse models. In January, came publication of research findings that
identify, in human tissue, the specific immune system T cells that trigger pancreatic beta cell destruction.
This summer von Herrath assumes leadership of a new Seattle-based translational T1D center funded by
Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specializing in diabetes care. The center will focus on the
development of type 1 diabetes immunotherapies; von Herrath will continue to lead his current research
program at the La Jolla Institute on a part-time basis.
JDRF Beta Cell Replacement Research
Oxygen-Generating Biomaterial Enhances Islet Survival – Sacramento Bee
Scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute, funded in part by JDRF, have developed a revolutionary
technique to provide critical oxygen for maintaining the survival of insulin-producing cells. This is the first
time that scientists have been able to successfully deliver oxygen locally to beta cells using a biomaterial.
The results of the study, which represents a major step toward the goal of developing an alternative site
to house insulin-producing cells, were just published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National
Academy of Science. Such work is a key component of JDRF’s effort to encapsulate beta cells that can
be implanted in people with T1D and take over the normal insulin producing role of the pancreas.
1
Creating 'death-defying' insulin-producing islets for transplantation – Medical Xpress
Australian scientists have identified one way of making a frustratingly tricky transplant – of insulinproducing ‘islets of Langerhans’ into patients with T1D – more successful. A Sydney team, part of the
Commonwealth-funded Australian Islet Transplant Consortium formed in 2006 and funded in-part by
JDRF, has found that islets are severely handicapped from the outset. Before they ever reach their mark,
they are full of inflammatory molecules, much like stressed or damaged tissue. These researchers
detailed the ‘molecular signatures’ of islets that were transplanted into 15 recipients as part of a 5-year
clinical trial. “The importance of our finding in the context of the whole process of transplantation – which
is very complex – is that it tells us the grafts we are using are not at ground zero,” said Associate
Professor Grey. Islets are easier to manipulate than the immune systems of patients, and this finding will
help us establish targets for therapy. In other words, we have the potential to treat islets with antiinflammatory compounds prior to transplantation. This should have a marked effect on the success of
transplants.
JDRF Beta Cell Regeneration Research
Study Shows Roles of Beta Cells and the Immune System in T1D – Medical Express
A new JDRF-funded study shows that many of the genes known to play a role in T1D are expressed in
pancreatic beta cells, suggesting that the cell responsible for producing insulin may be playing a part in its
own destruction that leads to T1D. Published in the March issue of PLoS Genetics, researchers in
Belgium suggest this interpretation after producing an extensive catalogue of more than 15,000 genes
expressed in human islets, forming the most extensive characterization of human islets reported to date.
What we're seeing is that beta cells may in fact be playing a larger role in triggering T1D than we
previously thought, and exploring this concept more deeply could lead to a better understanding of what
causes the autoimmune attack. Dr. Eizirik's work is important to JDRF because it shows that there is a
need for more research on beta cell survival and health and its role as a potentially key part of the early
disease process.
Researchers Find Possible Trigger of T1D – A Sweet Life
JDRF-funded scientists from the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that a specific type of
cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before the onset of T1D and this stress response in the
beta cell may in fact help ignite the autoimmune attack. These findings shed an entirely new light into the
mystery behind how changes in the beta cell may play a role in the earliest stages of T1D, and adds a
new perspective to the understanding of how T1D progresses, and how to prevent and treat the disease.
This provides some insight on the early events in T1D progression, and also suggests that drugs or
therapeutic strategies that alleviate cell stress might be used to delay progress of the disease, either
preventing insulin dependence or preserving beta cell function, improving glucose control and reducing
the risk of complications.
2
JDRF Treat Research
Developing new devices and therapies that optimize blood
sugar control and treat or prevent T1D complications.
JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project Research
Artificial Pancreas Gives Girl a Vacation from T1D – CNN.com
Elle Shaheen was selected to try out an experimental device called an artificial or "bionic" pancreas.
During the three-day study, Elle didn't have to poke her finger every few hours to find out her blood sugar
level because the "bionic" pancreas recorded it automatically and adjusted her insulin accordingly. "It's
transformative technology," says Aaron Kowalski, assistant vice president for treatment therapies
research at JDRF, a research foundation for juvenile diabetes.
New Technology and Research for T1D Patients – KFDA News, Amarillo, TX
New technology and research are helping detect and treat T1D earlier, meaning more children and adults
are being diagnosed. Fifteen -thousand people in the Texas panhandle are suffering from T1D. JDRF
supports many studies to help bring patients the latest technology and treatment options. One of the most
promising things that JDRF has been working on is called the artificial pancreas project. Basically, it's an
electronic device that automatically checks your blood sugar, knows how much you need for certain
amounts and then gives you insulin based on that. It reacts with your body, eliminating the need for
human intervention.
Artificial Pancreas Approved for US Outpatient Testing - Newswise
The FDA recently approved the first U.S. outpatient clinical trials for an artificial pancreas system, created
by a UVA School of Medicine research team led by Patrick Keith-Hynes, PhD, and Boris Kovatchev, PhD
with JDRF funding. The hand-held device – created by reconfiguring a standard smart phone –
automatically monitors blood sugar levels and provides insulin as needed, which may relieve patients
from having to regularly check their blood sugar levels and administer insulin shots. Patients will begin
testing the device at two sites; one in Virginia and one in California.
3
JDRF Prevent Research
Preventing the autoimmune process from starting or
stopping it before the onset of insulin dependence.
Magnetic Nanoparticles Detects T1D Onset – Medical Xpress
JDRF-funded researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital have
developed a magnetic nanoparticle-based MRI technique for predicting whether—and when—subjects
with a genetic predisposition for T1D will develop the disease. While done initially in mice, preliminary
data show that the platform can be used in people as well, so far to distinguish patients that do or do not
have pancreas inflammation. “This research is about predicting T1D, and using that predictive power to
figure out what is different between those who get it and those who don’t get it,” said Diane Mathis, in the
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology. In an earlier study, the collaborative team confirmed
that the same scanning techniques could be used to measure pancreatic inflammation in human subjects,
and were able to separate non-diabetics from diabetics. The great value of this new ability is that it will
permit a rapid assessment of the influence of drugs designed to clear the pancreatic inflammation. This
MRI technique could be used to get real-time data on the effectiveness of new drug therapies. The way
we work now, we have to wait and wait to see if therapies are having any benefit to the patients.
4