The VIRAT1D study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virome and Immune Responses Associated with Islet Autoantibody and Type 1 Diabetes (The VIRAT1D study)
IRAS ID
352747
Contact name
K Bahadori
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common disease that primarily affects children, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, children with T1D need lifelong treatment and are at risk of serious complications. The number of people with T1D is increasing and is expected to double by 2040. Despite its growing prevalence, we still do not know what causes T1D, and there is no treatment to prevent it.
The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) Study is an international research project to determine what causes T1D. It follows children who are at high risk of developing T1D from birth until they are 15 years old. By collecting samples and data from these children before they develop T1D, we can study how certain triggers, like viral infections, might start the disease. Understanding these triggers is crucial for discovering ways to prevent T1D and its many complications.
Our goal is to understand how viral infections can lead to T1D. Using samples and data from the TEDDY study, we aim to identify differences in how the immune system responds to these infections in children who develop T1D compared to those who do not.
Understanding what triggers the immune system to attack the pancreas is essential for developing strategies to prevent the disease. The TEDDY study provides a unique opportunity to investigate these factors because it collects detailed information and samples from children at high risk of developing T1D over many years.
This research will use samples provided by TEDDY and apply advanced techniques to study the immune cells of children who are exposed to viruses known to trigger T1D. By comparing the immune responses of children who develop T1D with those who do not, we hope to uncover important differences.REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0007
Date of REC Opinion
4 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion