‘Insulin is not a cure for diabetes; it is a treatment.’

Dr. Frederick Banting

1923

At the Leuven Diabetes Lab, we are dedicated to advancing the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes through innovative research and international collaborations. Our mission is to translate laboratory discoveries into life-changing clinical solutions, working towards a type 1 diabetes-free future.

Chantal Mathieu

Science Communication Career Award of the Royal Flemish Academy (KVAB)

Lab vision

The mission of the Leuven Diabetes Lab is to advance the understanding and treatment of type 1 diabetes through innovative research on beta-cell preservation, immune modulation, and translational approaches that bridge basic science with clinical applications, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes and work towards a world without type 1 diabetes.

Discover our vision & mission

Our research lines

Disease-modifying therapies

Despite significant advancements in insulin therapy and glucose monitoring, managing type 1 diabetes remains challenging and therapeutic options are limited. There is an urgent need for disease-modifying therapies that target the autoimmune root of the disease, to prevent, delay, or modify its disease course. Such strategies have the potential to significantly improve both quality of life and long-term health outcomes for individuals living with type 1 diabetes.

Autoimmunity

Type 1 diabetes susceptibility arises from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, traditionally linked to adaptive immunity (i.e., T and B cells). However, growing evidence highlights the significant role of innate inflammation in disease onset (i.e., neutrophils and NK cells). Our research focuses on unraveling the complex interactions among immune cells—including T cells, B cells, NK cells, and neutrophils—that contribute to beta-cell destruction and drive type 1 diabetes progression.

©Steve Gschmeissner / Science Photo Library

Beta cells

Beta-cell stress plays a pivotal role in triggering the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes, positioning them not merely as passive targets but as active participants in their own destruction. The persistence of beta-cell loss, even with immune-modulating therapies, underscores the involvement of non-immune factors in disease progression. This insight emphasizes the urgent need for therapies that simultaneously enhance beta-cell resilience and modulate immune responses, aiming to prevent—and potentially reverse—beta-cell destruction.

©Zerbor / Stock Adobe

Vitamin D

Vitamin D may play a crucial role in the prevention and management of type 1 diabetes by modulating immune responses and supporting pancreatic beta-cell function. Early-life high-dose vitamin D supplementation has shown potential in reducing the risk of developing the condition. Furthermore, its influence on gene transcription and immune regulation presents promising pathways for defining novel therapeutic strategies.

Other research

The Leuven Diabetes Lab actively participates in several European research consortia dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of type 1 diabetes in both adults and children. With early detection of type 1 diabetes becoming increasingly feasible through autoantibody screening, Prof. Chantal Mathieu plays a leading role in multiple screening initiatives across Europe.

“We were incredibly pleased with the professional and thorough testing conducted by Prof. Dr. Chantal Mathieu, Dr. Conny Gysemans, and their team on our antigen-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Their expertise with the NOD mouse model and related clinical and immunological readouts has been instrumental in providing us with reliable and detailed data.”

Jean Van Rampelbergh

Chief Clinical Development Officer, former Imcyse

Nicolas Bovy

Project Manager Type 1 Diabetes, former Imcyse

"Starting my professional journey with a PhD in type 1 diabetes in the lab of Prof. Dr. Chantal Mathieu has fostered my scientific curiosity, critical thinking, data analysis, and presentation skills. The strong network of the lab through collaborations with top-notch international research groups and companies has triggered me to continue after my PhD in more translational science and drug development in several pharma and biotech companies. Last but not least, the network of people that work or have worked in the lab is impressive and can still be relied on today!"

Hanne Callewaert

CEO and co-founder AstriVax Therapeutics

Jean Van Rampelbergh

Chief Clinical Development Officer, former Imcyse

Nicolas Bovy

Project Manager Type 1 Diabetes, former Imcyse

"Starting my professional journey with a PhD in Type 1 Diabetes in the lab of Prof. Dr. Chantal Mathieu has fostered my scientific curiosity, critical thinking, data analysis and presentation skills. The strong network of the lab through collaborations with top-notch international research groups and companies has triggered me to continue after my PhD in more translational science and drug development in several pharma and biotech companies. Last but not least, the network of people that work or have worked in the lab is impressive and can still be relied on today!"

Hanne Callewaert

CEO and co-founder AstriVax

Our expertise

Our expertise seamlessly connects basic research with clinical applications, utilizing cell lines and advanced disease models to validate cutting-edge technologies like spatial single-cell transcriptomics and flow cytometry. By integrating these innovations with clinical data and patient-derived samples, we take a translational approach to improve health outcomes.

Flow cytometry

Immune Hub

Animal models

Flow cytometry

Immune Hub

Animal models

Flow cytometry

Clinical trials

Animal models

Flow cytometry

Clinical trials

About us

We are a dynamic, multidisciplinary team of clinicians, basic scientists, bioinformaticians, and lab technicians united by a shared mission. Combining our complementary expertise, we connect fundamental research with clinical applications, harnessing diverse perspectives and skillsets to pioneer innovative solutions in type 1 diabetes treatment.

Discover our team and job opportunities

Support us

Choose to make a direct impact by contributing to a specific research project or by supporting the overarching goals of the Hippo & Friends Type 1 Diabetes Fund.

By donating today, you enable early-career scientists to pursue groundbreaking research aimed at preventing and curing type 1 diabetes.
Every contribution moves us one step closer to breakthroughs that matter.

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