Our ultimate goal is to find a type 1 diabetes cure
Research to cure T1D
Our three research priorities will help us get there:
Early detection
Identifying people in the early stages of the condition. Learn more about early detection.
Disease-modifying therapies
Therapies that prevent, slow, halt or reverse T1D. Learn more about disease-modifying therapies.
Cell therapies
Therapies that replace or regenerate lost beta cells
Identifying people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes
Early detection
T1D starts months or years before symptoms develop and can be detected through a simple blood test. We’re funding research to improve how early-stage T1D is detected and to help more Australians access T1D screening.
Currently, detecting people early leads to better long-term health and identifies those who may benefit from clinical trials to delay or halt the condition.
Ultimately, we want to detect T1D in people early, so that one day we can prevent the condition from ever occurring.
Therapies that prevent, slow, halt or reverse type 1 diabetes
Disease-modifying therapies
We’re funding research to discover and test drugs that address the root cause of T1D – the immune system.
These drugs seek to:
- stop the immune system from attacking healthy beta cells that produce insulin
- preserve or restore the beta cells’ ability to produce insulin.
A multitude of these disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are currently being developed or tested around the world, including right here in Australia. One of these, called teplizumab, has already been approved in the US for delaying the progression to stage 3 or symptomatic T1D. Another, called baricitinib, was shown by Breakthrough-T1D Australian researchers to supress the progression of T1D in those newly diagnosed.
In addition to funding research projects and trials to develop and test these therapies, we’re funding the clinical trial networks to make this happen.
Our hope is that one day, these therapies will cure, reverse or even prevent T1D from occurring.
Therapies that replace or regenerate lost beta cells
Cell therapies
In T1D, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks beta cells, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
Our cell therapies research seeks to replace or regenerate these damaged beta cells so that people with T1D can produce their own insulin once more.
We’re funding projects to achieve this through all angles: inserting healthy beta cells from outside the body, regenerating beta cells from within the body and protecting these new beta cells from further immune attack.
FAQs about research for a type 1 diabetes cure
We answer the most important questions about our research program aimed at finding a cure for T1D
Can type 1 diabetes be cured? When will a cure become available?
Like the T1D community, we want to find a cure for T1D as soon as possible. In fact, it is core to our mission, and our greatest hope is that we will see a cure as soon as possible – but it is a complex goal.
While we can’t provide a date for when a cure or even cures will become available, we know that research is moving faster than ever before. For example, T1D drugs and therapies that were just being discovered and investigated in the lab 10 years ago are now being tested in clinical trials around the world, including right here in Australia.
This is especially the case for disease-modifying therapies. In fact, one of these therapies-teplizumab- has now already been approved in the US for delaying the progression to stage 3 or symptomatic T1D. Another-baricitinib- was shown by Australian researchers to supress the progression of T1D in those newly diagnosed.
There is amazing research being done by T1D researchers in Australia and around the world, with breakthroughs happening often. We know that our community members are desperate for a cure, and so are we. Every day, we are moving closer to this goal.
What do you mean by 'a type 1 diabetes cure'?
A T1D cure means different things to different people.
For some it may be the regeneration of new beta cells, or replacement of beta cells in the body so people with T1D can produce insulin once again. For others it means being able to halt the development of T1D if caught early enough, so that symptoms never develop. For others it means preventing T1D from ever starting.
That’s why we tackle finding cures for T1D from every possible angle, through our 3 research priorities: early detection of T1D, disease-modifying therapies and cell therapies.
By searching every possible avenue for a T1D cure, we know we’ll find it sooner. And we won’t stop until we get there.
How can I help to find a cure for type 1 diabetes?
There are many ways that you can help us find a cure for T1D.
One way is to participate in a T1D clinical trial or study. Clinical trials and studies that are currently recruiting in Australia can be found in our listings page. Note that some of these trials and studies also recruit people who don’t have T1D (for example family members of those who do).
New therapies and drugs can only reach the community once clinical trials are complete. That’s why participation in these studies is important to getting us one step closer to finding a cure for T1D.
Research to find a cure for T1D is only possible with support from our community. There are a variety of ways to donate to Breakthrough T1D research – these can be found on our Donate page.
How can I keep updated on research news about a type 1 diabetes cure?
The best way to keep up to date with research news from Breakthrough T1D-funded research is to follow our socials and sign up to our research newsletter: Game Changer. You can subscribe to this via the form at the bottom of this page.
We’re searching for a cure. Will you join us?
Help us find a cure for type 1 diabetes
Your donations help us fund projects in the most promising areas of T1D research. Will you donate today to help us keep pushing for a cure?
Research news
The ultra long-acting insulin Tresiba is now listed on the PBS
Type1Screen: Screening for early-stage type 1 diabetes in family members
Research insights from a meeting of top international diabetes scientists in Australia
