In this podcast produced by DRWF, listen to our Senior Research Fellows, Professor Sarah Richardson, Dr James Cantley and Dr Victoria Salem, as they discuss their research interests, Grand Challenge projects, and the impact funding can have on research.
The Living with Diabetes podcast, produced by the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF) and hosted by Claire Levy, showcases inspirational stories about diabetes. In episode 22 of the series, the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge takes centre stage, as Claire interviews our three Senior Research Fellows. Hear from Professor Sarah Richardson, Dr James Cantley and Dr Victoria Salem as they explore their specific areas of research and explain how Grand Challenge funding is supporting them to devote more time and energy to their research.
Dr James Cantley’s project aims to identify, develop and test new treatments to grow new beta cells, and encourage surviving beta cells to replicate directly in the pancreases of people with type 1 diabetes.
Professor Sarah Richardson’s project aims to investigate how and why the immune system destroys beta cells in type 1 diabetes, and how the process may differ between people with the condition.
The Novel Insulins part of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge made a major step forward this week. Leading experts and researchers from around the world came together to share their progress, challenges and hopes for developing new forms of insulin.
Driven by a shared goal to improve the quality of life for everyone with type 1, the participants engaged in a thought-provoking virtual symposium, exploring the latest breakthroughs and challenges in insulin therapy.
The symposium was met with enthusiasm from the research community and provided a platform for valuable discussions and collaborations.
Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at JDRF said:
“The Novel Insulins Symposium served as a powerful opportunity for knowledge sharing within the research community – we were delighted to be able to bring together scientists from many different fields, from academia and from industry and from within the diabetes research world and without. Witnessing our expert speakers come together with the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Novel Insulins Challenge to explore the latest advances and opportunities in insulin therapy was truly inspiring.
“This symposium reinforces our collective dedication to making life better for everyone with type 1. It has already sparked valuable discussions which will pave the way for innovative new solutions and improved treatment options, and we look forward to developing these ideas further through the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’
Ambitious ideas for new insulins
Glucose responsive insulins, oral insulins and even a pill that could inject insulin directly into the stomach wall were discussed, along with helpful discussions about how to ensure great scientific concepts could move swiftly through the development pipeline .
The potential for new insulins to make life easier for everyone living with type 1 was also a key focus of the symposium, reinforcing the purpose of all the scientific excitement was to deliver change of real value to people living with the condition.
One of the highlights of the symposium was the emphasis on using novel insulins in combination with existing technologies to create truly tailored approaches to type 1 diabetes which could not only deliver better glycaemic management, but crucially enhance quality of life while reducing the long and short term complications of living with type 1 diabetes.
Novel insulins research
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’s virtual symposium on novel insulins has set the stage for continued innovation and progress in type 1 research. The Scientific Advisory Panel will be launching an opportunity for research groups to pitch for funding later this year.
00:00:00 Introduction to the Novel Insulins Symposium – Professor Simon Heller 00:06:04 Discovery and design of novel insulins – Dr Peter Kurtzhals 00:38:41 Glucose-responsive smart insulin and delivery patch – Professor Zhen Gu 01:09:05 Molecular Engineering of Insulin: Progresses and Challenges – Professor Daniel Chou 01:35:33 Molecular engineering of glucose-responsive insulin – Professor Matthew Webber 02:07:00 Towards oral insulin and an artificial pancreas – Professor Robert Langer 02:26:03 Ultra-stable insulin analogs and their clinical applications – Professor Michael Weiss 02:55:22 Glucose-sensing insulins – Dr Alborz Mahdavi 03:31:42 Diabetes therapeutics from computational design – Professor Michael Strano 03:59:00 Discussion Panel – All speakers 04:36:42 Concluding remarks and next steps – Ms Rachel Connor
Video, Views
Grand Challenge researchers on the DRWF podcast
May 11, 2023
The Novel Insulins part of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge made a major step forward this week. Leading experts and researchers from around the world came together to share their progress, challenges and hopes for developing new forms of insulin.
Driven by a shared goal to improve the quality of life for everyone with type 1, the participants engaged in a thought-provoking virtual symposium, exploring the latest breakthroughs and challenges in insulin therapy.
The symposium was met with enthusiasm from the research community and provided a platform for valuable discussions and collaborations.
Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at JDRF said:
“The Novel Insulins Symposium served as a powerful opportunity for knowledge sharing within the research community – we were delighted to be able to bring together scientists from many different fields, from academia and from industry and from within the diabetes research world and without. Witnessing our expert speakers come together with the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Novel Insulins Challenge to explore the latest advances and opportunities in insulin therapy was truly inspiring.
“This symposium reinforces our collective dedication to making life better for everyone with type 1. It has already sparked valuable discussions which will pave the way for innovative new solutions and improved treatment options, and we look forward to developing these ideas further through the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’
Ambitious ideas for new insulins
Glucose responsive insulins, oral insulins and even a pill that could inject insulin directly into the stomach wall were discussed, along with helpful discussions about how to ensure great scientific concepts could move swiftly through the development pipeline .
The potential for new insulins to make life easier for everyone living with type 1 was also a key focus of the symposium, reinforcing the purpose of all the scientific excitement was to deliver change of real value to people living with the condition.
One of the highlights of the symposium was the emphasis on using novel insulins in combination with existing technologies to create truly tailored approaches to type 1 diabetes which could not only deliver better glycaemic management, but crucially enhance quality of life while reducing the long and short term complications of living with type 1 diabetes.
Novel insulins research
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’s virtual symposium on novel insulins has set the stage for continued innovation and progress in type 1 research. The Scientific Advisory Panel will be launching an opportunity for research groups to pitch for funding later this year.
