Funded projects

Find out more about the projects we’re funding to propel us towards better treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes

Novel Insulins Innovation Incubator

Ultrafast insulin inspired by snails
Professor Danny Hung-Chieh Chou

Ultrafast insulin inspired by snails

The team’s project will develop and test an ultrafast-acting insulin that’s only active when needed and could reduce the risk of blood glucose highs and lows in people with type 1 diabetes.

A novel mixture of insulin and glucagon
Professor Michael Weiss

A novel mixture of insulin and glucagon

The team’s project will develop and test a novel protein molecule that combines insulin and glucagon to help reduce the burden of blood glucose highs and lows for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Smart glucose-responsive insulin reservoirs
Prof Matthew Webber

Smart glucose-responsive insulin reservoirs

The team’s project will develop and test a ‘smart insulin’ delivery system, comprising an injectable glucose-responsive reservoir, allowing blood glucose levels to be managed in real-time.

A stable pool of insulin released in response to glucose
Professor Zhen Gu

A stable pool of insulin released in response to glucose

The team are designing novel insulins that respond immediately to rising blood glucose levels. In this project they will test a new kind of insulin that can be used either daily or weekly. Once injected, it forms a reservoir of insulin under the skin that is released in response to increasing blood glucose levels. 

‘Smarter’ insulin to manage blood glucose levels
Prof Zhiqiang Cao

‘Smarter’ insulin to manage blood glucose levels

The team’s project aims to develop an even smarter insulin that can precisely manage blood glucose like a healthy pancreas.

Small Nano Sugar: a new glucose-responsive insulin delivery system
Prof Christoph Hagemeyer

Small Nano Sugar: a new glucose-responsive insulin delivery system

The team’s project will will work to bring a new insulin delivery system. based on advanced nanotechnology, closer to clinical trials.

Root Causes Programme Grant

Combination therapy could help protect insulin-producing beta cells
Dr Danijela Tatovic

Combination therapy could help protect insulin-producing beta cells

Dr Danijela Tatovic’s project aims to test a combination of two therapies, both already licensed to treat other autoimmune conditions, to see if together, they can help protect surviving beta cells and delay progression of type 1 diabetes.

Does timing matter for therapies to prevent beta cell destruction?
A headshot of Dr James Pearson.

Does timing matter for therapies to prevent beta cell destruction?

Dr James Pearson’s project aims to test whether a new medicine, that slows the destruction of beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes, is more effective if administered at a particular time of day.

Could an existing medicine reverse the steps that lead to type 1 diabetes?
Headshot of Prof Eoin McKinney

Could an existing medicine reverse the steps that lead to type 1 diabetes?

Professor Eoin McKinney and his team at University of Cambridge have discovered ‘signatures’ of immune cell changes seen only in people who later develop type 1 diabetes. In this Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge project, they will search for existing medicines that can rewrite this signature to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Beta Cell Therapy Programme Grant

Beta cells: replace, protect, regenerate
Prof David Hodson and student Silvia Gimeno in lab

Beta cells: replace, protect, regenerate

The team’s project aims to pioneer new approaches to make better beta cells ready for transplantation, protect the beta cells from an immune attack, and to regrow beta cells inside the pancreas.

Making transplanted beta cells feel at home
Professor Francesca Spagnoli in the lab

Making transplanted beta cells feel at home

This project aims to unlock the full potential of transplants of insulin-making beta cells, by innovating ways to keep cells safe from harm once they’re transplanted into someone with type 1 diabetes.

Unleashing the benefits of beta cell transplants
Prof Shareen Forbes in the lab

Unleashing the benefits of beta cell transplants

This project aims to explore better and more innovative ways to transplant islets, clusters of pancreas cells, into people with type 1 diabetes to enable them to make their own insulin.

Bolstering beta cells ready for transplantation
Prof Shanta Persaud in the lab

Bolstering beta cells ready for transplantation

This project aims to run state-of-the-art experiments and find ways to improve methods to engineer new beta cells in the lab, so they act and react more like real human beta cells.

Tiny molecules with big potential for type 1
Drs Prashant Srivastava and Aida Martinez-Sanchez

Tiny molecules with big potential for type 1

This project aims to investigate how tiny molecules called microRNAs change the function of insulin-making beta cells.

How do beta cells tick?
Professor Shoumo Bhattacharya

How do beta cells tick?

This project will take inspiration from tick saliva to develop a defence mechanism for beta cells transplanted into people with type 1 diabetes.

Insulin on the brain
Dr Craig Beall

Insulin on the brain

This project will explore whether a type of cell found in the brain can help beta cells to make more insulin while hiding them from the immune system’s attack.

Senior Research Fellowships

Breathing new life into beta cells
Dr James Cantley

Breathing new life into beta cells

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.

‘Printing’ a safe haven for beta cells
Dr Vicky Salem in lab

‘Printing’ a safe haven for beta cells

Dr Victoria Salem’s project aims to develop a device that can be implanted into people with type 1 diabetes to deliver a new supply of beta cells.

Protecting the pancreas
Professor Sarah Richardson sat at her lab computer

Protecting the pancreas

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.

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.

Scientific equipment