Diabetes

Immunotherapy and Autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes

Immunotherapy and Autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes will delve into the fundamental immunological mechanisms that drive the onset and progression of Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and explore how innovative immunotherapeutic strategies are being developed to prevent, delay, or halt the disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly targets and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This immune-mediated attack typically begins months or years before clinical diagnosis and leads to lifelong insulin dependence. Understanding and targeting the autoimmune basis of T1D has become a key focus of research, as it holds the promise of not only managing symptoms but also addressing the root cause of the disease. By identifying the early stages of autoimmunity such as the presence of islet autoantibodies clinicians are now able to detect individuals at risk even before the onset of hyperglycemia, creating new windows for early intervention. In addition to monoclonal antibodies, the session will cover a wide range of immunomodulatory approaches, including antigen-specific immunotherapy, T-cell vaccines, regulatory T-cell (Treg) therapies, and cytokine inhibitors. Research on tolerance-inducing strategies which aim to retrain the immune system to tolerate beta-cell antigens without compromising overall immune function will also be discussed.