Cardiff and Swansea Research Centres Collaborate with Diabetes UK To Develop A Vaccine For Type I Diabetes

Diabetes UK has announced a massive investment of 4.4 million pounds for a research project that aims for the development of Type I diabetes vaccine. Cardiff and Swansea are likely to be the key research centres to host the pioneering research.

The research money has been contributed by Diabetes UK with support from Tesco and Type I diabetes charity, JDRF, reported Diabetes.co.uk. According to the scientists, the vaccine for Type I diabetes could be developed “within a generation,” and is expected to be produced by the end of ten years from the start of research.

The groundbreaking research will be carried across 15 research centres in the UK. The money invested by Diabetes UK is likely to go to large research centres, including Cardiff University, King's College and Imperial College.

The project has been titled "Phase 1b Study of Proinsulin (PI) Peptide Immunotherapy in New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes (MonoPepT1De-1b)." The project will examine whether a small part of the protein from proinsulin can cease the autoimmune process by which these cells get destroyed automatically in a person suffering from Type I diabetes.

At King's College, London, Professor Mark Peakman will carry out the trial of the prototype vaccine in teenagers who are at a greater risk of developing Type I diabetes, reported Diabetes.co.uk.

On the other hand, Professor Colin Dayan at the Cardiff University will build a network of clinical trials across the hospitals in the UK, in addition to conducting the vaccine trial. The doctors and researchers will be provided the required training before conducting the trials.

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