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).

Earlier this year, the UK Government confirmed that UK researchers would be unable to access EU funding for four European Innovation Health Initiative (IHI) call topics – part of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme – due to budget timing issues.

This included the high-profile ‘Leveraging Europe’s Expertise to Accelerate Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes’ call topic, which aims to drive the widespread adoption of beta cell therapy by ensuring its efficacy, accessibility, and integration into healthcare systems.

This risked excluding eligible UK researchers from one of the largest collaborations in the field, potentially leading to duplicated efforts across Europe and slowing progress.

Now, the Grand Challenge will commit up to £2 million over 5 years to ensure UK institutions can participate in the IHI call. The funding will be administered through UKRI.

This investment will mean UK researchers can stay fully embedded in European collaboration and strengthen international knowledge-sharing, to accelerate progress towards life-changing new treatments for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research and Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:

“This funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation will help ensure UK researchers can stay at the forefront of beta cell therapies. It reflects the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge’s determination to act with urgency and to safeguard collaborations, so that people with type 1 diabetes can benefit from life-changing therapies without delay.”

Liam Eaglestone, Chief Executive Officer of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:

“At the Steve Morgan Foundation, we are committed to transforming the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. When it became clear that additional support was needed for UK researchers to join this important European collaboration, we acted quickly with our Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge partners to help make that possible. This funding will ensure UK expertise continues to play a central role in international efforts to advance cell therapies, bringing us closer to life-changing treatments for everyone affected by type 1 diabetes.”

Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at Breakthrough T1D UK, said:

“We believe that curing type 1 diabetes will take a truly global effort. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring UK researchers can contribute to and benefit from international collaborations like this one. By unlocking access to world-class partnerships, we’re accelerating progress towards breakthrough therapies and keeping the UK firmly embedded in the global push for cure.”

Professor Christopher Smith, the International Champion of UKRI and the Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (ARHC), said:

“This funding enables UK researchers to remain engaged in a major European initiative advancing cell therapies for type 1 diabetes. It reflects UKRI’s commitment to international partnerships that accelerate scientific progress and deliver real-world impact. This collaboration will support UK institutions to drive forward transformative treatments that could change lives across the UK and beyond.”

The first-stage application deadline for the call is 9 October.

Further Information

• Please note that: (1) the UK funding will be administered by UKRI in parallel to (but separate from) the UK Horizon Europe Guarantee and will use largely similar rules; and (2) there will be a requirement for UK organisations to submit a short form with basic information to UKRI and Diabetes UK.
• Potential UK applicants (or their collaborators) should contact Jo Frost – the UK National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Health – for further details as soon as possible at ncp-health@iuk.ukri.org
• Mirroring the UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee process, applicants will be bound by: the IHI project’s Consortium Agreement; relevant clauses in the IHI Grant Agreement; and the terms and conditions of the UKRI Horizon Grant Offer Letter.
  In addition, for this call and as part of the Diabetes UK funding conditions, applicants will also be required to agree to Diabetes UK’s standard revenue share agreement in relation to future possible use of IP. Applicants are advised to review section 3 of the Diabetes UK Revenue Share Agreement.
  We would advise applicants to share the Diabetes UK standard revenue agreement with their international consortium straight away and ensure that the consortium is aware of the content of the agreement.
• Further information on IHI Call 11 Topic 4 “Leveraging Europe’s expertise to accelerate cell therapy for type 1 diabetes” is available on the IHI website.