DIDNRI Moves Closer to a Cure

Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes usually strikes in childhood, turning the world of previously healthy children upside down. Suddenly, the baseball gloves, Barbies and other childhood joys are joined by the harsh reality of daily insulin injections and rigorous dietary requirements. While daily insulin injections keep those with diabetes alive, dreadful complications can result and the disease often shortens the lifespan of its sufferers. The disorder, which typically starts in childhood and carries on through life, currently affects about 2 million Americans. Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in the U.S. - 40 children per day.

Scientists at the Diabetes & Immune Disease National Research Institute (DIDNRI) are well aware of the severe challenges of type 1 diabetes and are working very hard toward a cure. Their research focuses on fighting type 1 diabetes and other disorders by unraveling the mysteries of the immune system. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This results in a complete deficiency of the insulin hormone, causing the need for insulin injections and dietary regimens to control blood sugar.

The Institute's search for a cure took a major step in 2006, with the announcement by DIDNRI researcher Matthias von Herrath, M.D., of a new combination therapy that may halt type 1 diabetes, when caught in the early stages. The finding generated international headlines and significant excitement in the scientific community. Recognized as of the world's top type 1 diabetes researcher, Dr. von Herrath received the American Diabetes Association's prestigious 2008 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award.

In October of 2009, led by Dr. von Herrath, we officially launched the Institute's Type 1 Diabetes Center to accelerate research toward new therapies to better treat prevent or cure type 1 diabetes. "Our mission is to be a premier center of immunological excellence in type 1 diabetes research," said Dr. von Herrath. The Center will focus on new, immune-based approaches and is the first such immunologically focused research center for type 1 diabetes in Southern California. For Dr. von Herrath, collaboration with local organizations is key to the Center's efforts to combat type 1 diabetes.

The Center has close ties with the Pediatric Diabetes Research Center of UC San Diego, the Sanford Children's Health Research Center at the Burnham Institute, and Rady Children's Hospital, along with several private San Diego biotechnology companies. In addition, the La Jolla Institute works closely with the Brehm Coalition-a national scientific consortium devoted to accelerating research toward a type 1 diabetes cure.

Type 1 Diabetes Center Director, Dr. von Herrath, and his lab are edging closer to a goal that has eluded the scientific community for nearly a century. For more information, visit http://www.liai.org/pages/diabetes-center