Our research

Type I diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency primarily caused by the autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin secreting pancreatic islet beta cells. 

Understanding how the autoimmunity initiates and is perpetuated is relevant to introducing therapies that will prevent beta cell destructive immunity.

FUTURE PROJECTS AND GOALS

• Identify the mechanisms of autoreactive T effector and T regulatory expansion in man that can be harnessed to maintain or re-instate self-immune tolerance.
• Define new markers of autoimmunity for the early identification of infants and children who will develop type 1 diabetes.
• Clinical primary prevention trials in genetically susceptible infants
• Establish a screening program in Saxony for children with a presymptomatic type 1 diabetes (Fr1da-study)