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Early research on “smart” insulin brings hope for safer type 1 diabetes management
News
October 6, 2025

Early research on “smart” insulin brings hope for safer type 1 diabetes management

Researchers funded by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge have developed a new insulin–glucagon molecule, which could reduce dangerous drops in blood glucose, known as hypoglycaemia. For people living with type 1 diabetes, where hypoglycaemia is a constant risk, this breakthrough has the potential to make daily management safer and more reliable.

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Funding boost enables UK researchers to access European type 1 diabetes cell therapy collaboration
NewsResearchers in lab coats looking at a screen together in their lab
September 23, 2025

Funding boost enables UK researchers to access European type 1 diabetes cell therapy collaboration

UK researchers will be able to collaborate with European experts on a major funding initiative to develop cell therapies for type 1 diabetes, thanks to funding from the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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Designing the future of type 1 diabetes treatment with smart insulins
ViewsMatt Webber at the Grand Challenge dinner in Glasgow, there's a Grand Challenge branded banner behind him
September 10, 2025

Designing the future of type 1 diabetes treatment with smart insulins

We spoke with Professor Matt Webber, a Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge researcher who’s leading the development of next-generation insulins.

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The Grand Challenge partners with the NIHR to establish a UK-wide Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network
News
August 4, 2025

The Grand Challenge partners with the NIHR to establish a UK-wide Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network

We’re excited to announce that we’re investing £5 million over the next five years to establish a UK-wide Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network, in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

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The innovation injection: the cross-disciplinary push to cure type 1 diabetes
ViewsGrand Challenge researcher working in a lab setting
July 14, 2025

The innovation injection: the cross-disciplinary push to cure type 1 diabetes

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge is bringing diverse skills and fresh perspectives into type 1 research. Here we explain why new ways of thinking are vital and meet some of the researchers from other scientific fields who have joined the type 1 research community.

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Despite what you learned at school, insulin isn’t just made in the pancreas
ViewsAn illustration of a brian
June 16, 2025

Despite what you learned at school, insulin isn’t just made in the pancreas

Hear from our researcher, Dr Craig Beall, about the brain insulin production – what we’ve discovered so far, and what’s more to understand.

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Viral triggers, ticks to tackle the immune system and a smart coat for insulin: Latest type 1 diabetes research
NewsThe Grand Challenge researcher, Sarah Richardson, is looking at islet samples through a microscope in her lab.
May 27, 2025

Viral triggers, ticks to tackle the immune system and a smart coat for insulin: Latest type 1 diabetes research

At the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, we support cutting-edge research aimed at bringing us closer to better treatments, and potentially, a cure. The research teams we fund are leaders in the field and their latest discoveries, highlighted here, are contributing to global efforts to transform the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

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What are beta cell therapies, and do they offer hope for a cure for type 1 diabetes?
ViewsBeta cells under a microscope
April 15, 2025

What are beta cell therapies, and do they offer hope for a cure for type 1 diabetes?

Clinical trials in beta cell replacement are creating a buzz among the diabetes community. We explain what beta cell therapies are, how close they could be to becoming a potential treatment option, and how Grand Challenge research is helping bring them closer to the reality.

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The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge makes waves at DUKPC 
NewsDavid Hodson, Shareen Forbes, Shanta Persaud, Mirjam Eiswirth and Rocio Sancho speaking at DUKPC.
March 14, 2025

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge makes waves at DUKPC 

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge took centre stage at this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference, uniting researchers and people affected by type 1 diabetes to share their expertise and celebrate progress with the wider diabetes community.  

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Putting people affected by type 1 diabetes at the heart of research.

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge brings together scientists and the type 1 community to drive forward progress in areas that matter most to people with type 1.

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