Repurposing a Vaccine for Type I Diabetes

Principal Investigator: Dr. Denise Faustman​

Disease: Type 1 Diabetes

Research Description: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs when the body mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin‐producing cells of the pancreas. It affects up to 3 million Americans—many of whom are children—who rely on insulin injections or pumps to live. This project is testing Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG), an inexpensive generic vaccine, as a treatment for people with TID, including those with long-standing T1D. The team recently completed a Phase I study, and the goal of this Phase II will be to identify a dosage amount and schedule that will put T1D into long‐term remission and allow some level of insulin production to begin again. There is strong scientific evidence that the insulin‐producing cells of the pancreas continue to regenerate in T1D patients, even decades after the disease starts. If the researchers can reduce the immune attack on these cells, it is hoped that they will start to deliver insulin again.

Funding Partners: Anonymous

CWR funding role: Participating funder