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

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.

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A novel mixture of insulin and glucagon

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.

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Smart glucose-responsive insulin reservoirs

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.

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A stable pool of insulin released in response to glucose

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.

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‘Smarter’ insulin to manage blood glucose levels

‘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.

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

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.

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Root Causes Programme Grant

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.

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Does timing matter for therapies to prevent beta cell destruction?

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.

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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.

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Making transplanted beta cells feel at home

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.

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Unleashing the benefits of beta cell transplants

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.

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Bolstering beta cells ready for transplantation

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.

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Senior Research Fellowships

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.

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‘Printing’ a safe haven for beta cells

‘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.

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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.

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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.

How to get involved