Immunotherapy
Immunotherapies are new treatments that reprogramme the immune system so that it no longer attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. They're being tested in clinical trials and could give us a way to stop type 1 diabetes in its tracks or prevent the condition entirely.
In our video we explain how immunotherapies work and how they could help people with or at risk of type 1 diabetes in the future.
Immunotherapies would be a major shift in the way we treat type 1 diabetes – tackling its root cause for the first time and moving us closer to a cure. We're funding research to help us make these treatments a reality sooner. And our researchers won’t stop until immunotherapies are transforming lives.
What are immunotherapies and how do they work?
Different immunotherapies work in different ways, but they all aim to keep the immune system in check and stop its attack on the pancreas. This could help people to keep on making more of their own insulin for longer.
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Preventing type 1 diabetes
We can identify people who have a high risk of developing type 1 diabetes in the future. Scientists are testing if immunotherapies could prevent their immune system from going wrong in the first place, so they never develop type 1.
The immunotherapy consortium
We’ve been at the heart of immunotherapy research for years. We've invested over £3 million to set up a network of scientists and research centres to test immunotherapies in clinical trials, and find the ones that work sooner.
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Hear from Professor Colin Dayan
If you or your child have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes you could be eligible to take part in an immunotherapy clinical trial. Our scientist Prof Colin Dayan explains everything you need to know about immunotherapy research.
Mahn's story
When Mahn was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes his parents found out about an immunotherapy clinical trial, and were determined to give him the chance to try a promising new treatment.
Ruby's story
Ruby was shocked and overwhelmed when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She was then offered the chance to take part in a study testing an immunotherapy.
