Some 9 million people worldwide have type 1 diabetes (T1D), in which the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make the hormone insulin. Insulin controls our blood sugar levels, and people with T1D have to closely monitor their blood sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin to keep their condition under control.
Late diagnosis: a common problem in type 1 diabetes
Today, many people are only diagnosed when the disease has already caused significant damage to the insulin-producing cells. Research efforts to identify people with T1D earlier on in the disease have so far focused mainly on people with a family member with the disease. However, 90% of those diagnosed have no family history of T1D and so are not picked up by these efforts.
The aim of new IHI project EDENT1FI is to change that by setting up a pan-European open platform to screen 200 000 children and adolescents for T1D.
“Decades of dedicated research, including pioneering studies in Germany, have made screening for early-stage type 1 diabetes possible,” said project co-leader Anette Ziegler of the German Research Center for Environmental Health. “Through EDENT1FI, we now have the opportunity to apply our ground-breaking work across Europe so that we can improve early care and change the course of a disease that affects children and adults life-long.”
The project will assess the psychosocial, medical and economic impacts of screening for T1D in different health systems and populations. The team will also refine the biomarkers used to determine a person’s risk of developing T1D, how advanced the disease is, and how the disease should be monitored in different patients. Another part of the project will focus on designing clinical trials of novel treatments that could stop the disease in its tracks.
A shared commitment to making a difference for people with type 1 diabetes
“Our collaborative efforts are driven by a shared commitment to making a tangible impact in the lives of those affected by type 1 diabetes,” said project coordinator Chantal Mathieu of KU Leuven. “Together, we aim to pioneer innovative approaches that will redefine the landscape of T1D diagnosis and care."
On the industry side, Mark Peakman of Sanofi commented: “Sanofi is strongly committed to transforming the landscape of type 1 diabetes from the very earliest stages, and we firmly believe in the power of early detection and intervention. Our support for research in this area is grounded in evidence that earlier intervention can significantly improve health outcomes. This aligns with our mission to advance healthcare and provide effective solutions for those facing this challenging condition."
In the long term, learnings from EDENT1FI could also be applied to other childhood diseases.