PhD Research Summary - Dr. Martens
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells, leaving patients dependent on lifelong insulin therapy. This PhD project explored preventive and therapeutic strategies to improve disease outcomes.
High-dose vitamin D supplementation prevented diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice by promoting regulatory immune responses and influencing the gut microbiome, though safety concerns remain for human application.
Insulin peptide vaccination with alum induced regulatory T cells and protected against disease in the NOD mouse model, highlighting the promise of antigen-specific immunotherapy.
Finally, a combination of anti-mouse thymocyte globulin (mATG) and verapamil achieved long-term remission in newly diabetic mice by restoring immune balance and supporting beta-cell survival.
These findings underline the importance of personalized approaches in type 1 diabetes and support ongoing INNODIA clinical trials aimed at translating these strategies into future therapies.
The full text can be found via the link.