Professor Ranjeny Thomas from the University of Queensland, Diamantina Institute is main the analysis crew. They are developing a therapy that’s designed to steadiness the immune system.
Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system singles out and destroys insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas. So far, researchers from around the globe have but to uncover how to stop the immune system from finishing up this autoimmune assault.
The crew from Queensland is one in every of various analysis groups wanting to make a breakthrough in controlling the autoimmune assault. To do that they’re utilizing a liposome (fats lined cell) that incorporates a protein from the pancreas that serves as an ‘immune pink flag’.
It is hoped that signalling a pink flag could change how the immune system responds. In addition, the researchers will use a drug to calm the immune system and reduce the severity of the autoimmune assault.
“We are excited to leverage the immune system’s potential to heal itself, which is a completely different approach to insulin replacement,” Prof. Thomas said.
The therapy has to this point proven success in treating mice engineered to develop a type of diabetes related to type 1 diabetes. Whilst many therapies have been profitable in treating mice, no therapy has but been developed that tackles type 1 diabetes in people.
Prof. Thomas’ crew have been recruiting sufferers from the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital for human trials and hope to begin these trials in round two years’ time.
The analysis crew has acquired $1.2 million (US ) funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The funding is run by type 1 diabetes charity JDRF Australia.
