For the first time in over a decade, leading type 1 diabetes (T1D) scientists and healthcare professionals from around the world gathered in Australia for the Immunology of Diabetes Society Congress, known as IDS 2026.
In April, Brisbane welcomed 360 delegates from 21 countries to share their research focused on the underlying immune biology involved in T1D and ways to overcome it to better treat, prevent and ultimately cure the condition.
Breakthrough T1D team members from the US and across Australia were present to lead discussions and ensure the needs of people living with T1D were prioritised.
Here is our overview of the promising scientific breakthroughs from behind the scenes at IDS 2026.
Breakthroughs in therapies to delay T1D onset
T1D starts developing in the body months-years before the symptoms of the 4Ts appear, with people progressing through the stages of T1D as the immune system destroys more insulin-making beta cells.
Scientists are working on drugs to prevent or delay the onset of stage 3 T1D, where people need to start taking insulin. These drugs, known as disease-modifying therapies, are at various stages of development, with many already being tested in clinical trials in people at risk of or recently diagnosed with T1D. Exciting updates about these trials were shared at IDS 2026, and you can browse our list of T1D clinical studies currently looking for people in Australia to take part.
New T1D drug: ASITI
Professor Ranjeny Thomas from the University of Queensland presented results from the first clinical trial of ASITI, a therapy she developed with Breakthrough T1D funding, establishing a safe dose. The next trial of ASITI is currently recruiting adults across Australia who were diagnosed with T1D in the last 5 years to explore whether ASITI can help reduce or modify the immune system’s attack on beta cells.
Professor Thomas said: “If we can teach the immune system not to attack the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, type 1 diabetes could be prevented and treated at an early stage. If we are successful and we could change the outcome of a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, this would be a dream come true.”
ATG: An existing drug revamped for T1D
Researchers are exploring whether a drug called anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), which is normally used to prevent the body rejecting organ transplants, can slow the progression of T1D. ATG is an immunosuppressant drug, which can come with side effects, so researchers are trying to find ways to overcome this risk.
Results from the MELD-ATG trial shared at IDS 2026 suggest that a very small dose of ATG may preserve insulin production in people with T1D while reducing side effects compared to higher doses. Meanwhile, researchers from the SAFEGUARD study explained they have developed an improved version of ATG, which they hope will have reduced side effects. They are currently recruiting people recently diagnosed with T1D in Australia to test this new drug – find out more about the SAFEGUARD trial and how to sign up.
Individual differences in T1D may lead to personalised medicine
Researchers and clinicians are recognising that T1D can look very different biologically and genetically among individuals, and shared data of different forms of T1D in people from Japan, sub-Saharan Africa and China. Professor Tim Davies discussed the inconsistent research findings about how diabetes presents among First Nations peoples in Australia. His talk demonstrated the need for more work in this area to better support this community, which Breakthrough T1D is focusing on as part of our 2024-2030 Research Strategy.
There are certain genes that increase the risk of developing T1D, and others that may have a protective effect against T1D. Researchers are finding that some new therapies to delay T1D are more effective in people with certain genes. For example, the POInT study tested whether treatment with oral insulin could delay or prevent the start of T1D in people with data suggesting it may be more effective in people with certain genes. Research like this paves the way for more personalised medicine, where people could one day be offered different treatment options based on their genes or other biological features.
Understanding the environmental triggers of T1D
Almost an entire day of IDS 2026 was dedicated to research from the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study, an Australian project exploring how factors in the environment influence risk of T1D during pregnancy and in the first years of life. The ENDIA study has built a unique resource of data and samples collected from children with a family history of T1D from as early as their mother’s pregnancy up to age 10 years.
Researchers who have analysed ENDIA samples discussed how gut bacteria (known as the microbiome) can influence T1D, with siblings showing shared microbiome features that may be linked to T1D risk. A standout talk was by Dr Ki Wook Kim presenting ENDIA data that shed light on the role of viruses in T1D development. Dr Kim and his team found that the way some children’s immune systems respond to viruses, rather than specific viruses, may help trigger the development of T1D.
Gene therapy to improve islet transplants
Islet transplants replace the islets (clusters of pancreatic cells including insulin-producing beta cells) destroyed in people with T1D with healthy islets from organ donors. People who receive islet transplants need to take strong drugs called immunosuppressants to prevent their immune system destroying the new islets. The immunosuppressants come with an increased risk of infections and certain cancers, so researchers are trying to find ways to limit their use in islet transplants to enable more people to benefit from the procedure.
At IDS 2026, Professor Shane Grey, a Breakthrough T1D-funded researcher at the University of New South Wales, presented his exciting research using gene therapy to protect transplanted islet cells from immune attack. His novel approach involves using a harmless virus to deliver a gene into the islets to significantly improve the survival of islets transplanted into preclinical models of T1D by making the islets more resilient to damage from the immune system. Off the back of these successful preclinical trials, Professor Grey hopes to begin clinical trials transplanting these genetically edited islets into people with T1D soon, with the aim of reducing the need for immunosuppression and expanding access to islet transplantation.
Enabling researchers to study human pancreatic cells
IDS 2026 brought together global experts to discuss access to high-quality human pancreatic tissue, a crucial resource to progress T1D research. First, Professor Alberto Pugliese highlighted the impact of nPOD, a global program that has built an extensive collection of pancreas samples from donors with and without diabetes. By allowing researchers to study T1D directly in human cells, nPOD has transformed our understanding of how T1D develops and progresses, and how new therapies might work in real people.
Building on this, Professor Patrick MacDonald from the Alberta Diabetes Institute described IsletCore, a coordinated network that provides researchers with access to human islets and associated data. By enabling a consistent, high-quality supply of living pancreatic cells, initiatives like IsletCore have made it possible to test new ideas and therapies in conditions that closely reflect human biology.
It is a challenge for Australian researchers to access these resources because human islets are highly sensitive, and can be significantly affected by long transport times, making international supply difficult. To address this, Professor Peter Thorn from the University of Sydney outlined a new national initiative AUSPIN (the Australasian Pancreas and Islet Network). Funded by Breakthrough T1D, and supported by Australia’s Islet Transplantation Program, and international collaborators, AUSPIN is being developed as a coordinated, platform to provide reliable access to human pancreatic tissue for research.
Professor Thorn said: “Australasian researchers are working on critical challenges in diabetes, from early detection and prevention to developing new treatments. AUSPIN will give Australasian researchers reliable access to human pancreatic tissue and help advance diabetes research, leading to better treatments and potential cures.”
We look forward to sharing more news with our community about these projects and other exciting research programs as they develop. You can stay updated on T1D research breakthroughs by signing up to the Gamechanger e-newsletter.
