Professors Shoumo Bhattacharya and David Hodson and their teams will harness the immune-system-evading properties of tick saliva to develop long-lasting, effective beta cell therapies for type 1 diabetes. These therapies could transform the way the condition is treated by helping people to make their own insulin again, but for everyone to benefit scientists need to develop ways to produce an endless supply of healthy beta cells in the lab and to keep the type 1 immune attack at bay.
In the Oxfordshire area, around 7,860 people live with type 1 diabetes, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cell therapies to replace the destroyed cells are in development. However, the transplanted cells also attract immune system attacks, requiring recipients to take immunosuppressant drugs, which can lead to side effects and only provide temporary protection.
Chemical signals released from beta cells, called chemokines, act like beacons that lead the immune system to attack. Researchers have struggled to find ways to block these signals, because there are so many different types of chemokines.
We are very excited to receive funding from the Grand Challenge, with which we aim to develop tick-inspired treatments to help people with type 1 diabetes, which could improve the success of beta cell transplants. This will complement and synergise with our British Heart Foundation funded efforts to develop these as treatments for heart disease. - Professor Shoumo Bhattacharya, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford
Parasitic ticks have evolved proteins, which block chemokines and allow them to bite through skin and feed on blood without being detected by the immune system. In their new project, the researchers will investigate if a tiny piece of the protein, called a peptide, can be targeted to beta cells and help them avoid the immune system attack after transplantation. They will engineer beta cells to produce these chemokine-blocking peptides. The peptides and engineered beta cells will be tested in the lab followed by studies in mice with type 1 diabetes.
If successful, this research could lead to the development of long-lasting beta cell therapies that don't require immunosuppressant drugs. It is hoped these would eliminate the need for multiple daily insulin injections or insulin pumps, constant blood sugar monitoring, and help to prevent the devasting complications of type 1 diabetes.
The funding comes from the unprecedented £50 million investment from the Steve Morgan Foundation, which is supporting pioneering and multidisciplinary teams of researchers to develop new treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes.
The University of Oxford is one of four universities leading new projects, totalling over £2 million, joining Imperial College London, the University of Exeter, and the University of Cambridge.
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: 'These high-risk, high-reward, innovative projects exemplify the transformative potential of the research funded by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. Bold, cutting-edge approaches, like drawing inspiration from ticks to boost the success of beta cell transplants, help us to step closer to revolutionising the way type 1 diabetes is treated and improving the lives of those affected by the condition.'
Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at Breakthrough T1D said: 'We are thrilled to see the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge powering this innovative research. This project at the University of Oxford exemplifies the kind of ground-breaking work that can happen when scientists have the opportunity to come together and think creatively. By exploring the unique properties of tick saliva, this research could lead to innovative therapies that not only improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes but also help pave the way for a future without the burden of daily insulin management.'
Read summaries of each newly funded project.
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge was established following the Steve Morgan Foundation's generous £50 million donation into type 1 diabetes research. Over five years the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge is funding collaborative research with the greatest potential to lead to life-changing new treatments. So far, over £23 million has been allocated to exceptional research teams in the UK, who are leading the race towards a cure for type 1 diabetes.