Designing the future of type 1 diabetes treatment with smart insulins

Professor Matt Webber, a biomedical engineer, is working to make insulin smarter. Funded by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, he is leading the development of next-generation insulins, which respond in real time to blood sugar levels. His research could lead to safer, more precise ways of managing blood sugar levels for people with type 1. 

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to become a biomedical engineer?

I started out in chemical engineering because I was fascinated by the idea of designing materials from the molecular level. Over time, I became especially interested in how those materials could interact with the human body. That interest led me to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, where I focused on chemistry and materials science as tools to develop better biomaterials and drug delivery systems

What inspired you to focus your research on type 1 diabetes and the development of new types of insulin?

Managing type 1 diabetes takes a tremendous amount of daily effort, constant attention, planning, and mental energy. I was drawn to the idea of developing more autonomous therapies that could help ease that burden. For this to work, the system needs to be incredibly precise, delivering just the right dose at just the right time to safely manage blood sugar levels. Designing insulin and glucagon therapies that respond automatically to changes in glucose levels felt like a really exciting and meaningful challenge where our science could have a real impact.

What does a typical day look like for you in the lab?

No two days are exactly the same, but I usually spend time checking in with students, discussing experiments, analysing data, and planning next steps. I’m constantly thinking about how we can improve our technologies, identify remaining challenges, and move closer to clinical use. Each day brings a new mix of science, mentoring, problem-solving, and deadlines and that variety is what makes the work so engaging and rewarding.

You’re developing a ‘smart insulin’ that responds to blood sugar levels. How does this technology work?

You can think of our technology as giving insulin a built-in sensor. It stays mostly ‘off’ when blood sugar is in a healthy range, but turns ‘on’ and begins working as blood sugar levels rise. The big-picture goal is an insulin that responds automatically as needed to keep blood sugar in check. A more practical near-term goal might be a single insulin that can cover both basal and mealtime needs by varying its potency. That way, people can dose more confidently without constantly calculating or worrying about going low.

What are the next steps to bring your smart insulin from the lab to people living with type 1 diabetes?

We’re focused on making the system more reliable and consistent, including testing it under real-world conditions like exercise or missed meals. We’re also working to ensure it is stable, safe, and suitable for repeat dosing. Eventually, we’ll need to collaborate with industry partners to scale up production and with clinical teams to begin human trials. There’s still plenty of work ahead, but we’re making steady progress toward bringing better therapies to people.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your research journey so far?

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is mentoring students and watching them grow into independent scientists. But what motivates me just as much is the hope that our work can lead to real improvements in people’s lives. I often speak with parents of children with type 1 diabetes, and I see how much they’re counting on us to create safer, better therapies. That hope is powerful, yet it comes with a deep responsibility to turn it into something real. That’s what keeps us going

Has anything surprised you about your research so far?

We might design a system with a very specific function in mind, but once it interacts with the body, things don’t always go according to plan. At first that can be frustrating, but more often than not, it opens the door to unexpected insights. Those moments when the biology teaches us something new can be the most fascinating and valuable parts of the process

What keeps you motivated in your work, especially when things get tough?

It’s the challenge that drives us. If this work were easy, it probably wouldn’t be worth doing. People are counting on us to raise the standard of care, and the possibility that what we’re building could help them is all the motivation we need to keep going.

What message would you like to share with families and people living with type 1 diabetes?

We’re driven every day by the goal of delivering better options for you and your loved ones. Our team is working hard to create tools that make managing type 1 diabetes simpler and safer. Until a real and lasting cure is realised, which I hope is not far off, we’ll keep working to improve the treatment options available now.