Understanding and Targeting Innate Immunity in Type 1 Diabetes Pathogenesis

Helmsley Charitable Trust’s aims to support the discovery and development of new therapies that will prevent or delay the development of T1D and the identification and validation of biomarkers to predict disease initiation and progression. 

Helmsley T1D Program seeks to support studies that aim to evaluate or modulate the function of innate immune cells and pathways in T1D, with an emphasis on human disease during relatively early stages.

Of specific interest are research plans that include:

• Analyzing the type and function of innate cells (e.g. macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells) present in the pancreas and their interactions with other cells, tissue-resident or otherwise;
• Investigating mechanisms of T1D pathogenesis that involves innate immunity;
• Identifying or validating biomarkers of disease progression or response to treatment based on innate immune cells;
• Identifying or validating therapeutic innate immune cell targets; and
• Developing or validating preclinical or clinical therapies to prevent or delay T1D that target or use innate immune cell pathways

Funding:

$300,000 per year for lab-based projects

$500,000 per year for clinic-based projcets

Duration: 3 years 

Research Authority due date: 24.4.25

Concept note (required) due date: 30.4.25

Full proposal due date: 30.7.25