nPOD Viral Working Group

nPOD has assembled a “cloud” of investigators with diverse expertise, who are interested in collaborative studies, and is ready to take the nPOD research model to a higher level: the nPOD working groups. These groups are intended to collectively tackle key questions in diabetes research.

The nPOD viral working group (nPOD-V) represents a self-assembled collaborative effort with the goal of investigating the role of viruses in type 1 diabetes through the study of nPOD samples. An innovative concept implemented by the group is “real-time” data sharing, to help coordinate studies and inform strategy adjustments. This approach should accelerate the rate of discovery and maximize the potential for robust results. The premise underlying this collaboration, based on the nPOD research model and the concept of data sharing and collaboration promoted by the nPOD leadership, has been fully embraced by the nPOD-V investigators; we believe that this in itself represent a major step-forward and innovation in the study of complex questions in human disease.

Many studies have linked enterovirus infection to islet autoimmunity and diabetes. Yet, many questions remain about which virus serotypes are linked to T1D, what type of infection they cause, and how this may contribute to the autoimmune process leading to diabetes. Earlier studies from individual laboratories suffered from limitations with samples and reagents, and did not have access to the latest methodological advances. This collaborative effort recognizes those limitations, and addresses them with an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that includes many innovative and powerful technologies that have not been used before for studying viruses in type 1 diabetes. The availability of shared tissues from the same patients and their coordinated analysis provide unprecedented opportunity that investigations can be exhaustive and the most informative.

The precise identification of enterovirus serotypes associated with T1D and a better molecular characterization of the virus host interaction and relation to pancreas pathology could lead to the identification of novel, T1D-specific, biomarkers of infection and potentially novel therapeutic targets. If a virus plays a role in islet autoimmunity, a vaccine or drugs that target viral responses could perhaps become important therapeutic avenues for preventing the triggering of autoimmunity or its progression, reducing patient burden and potential exposure to immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatments which can be associated with significant side effects and long term concerns, especially when children are concerned.

List of nPOD-V Investigators:

Last Name First Name Institution
Atkinson Mark University of Florida, nPOD
Pugliese Alberto City of Hope, nPOD
Campbell-Thompson Martha University of Florida, nPOD
Kaddis John COH/Bechman Research Institute, nPOD
Kusmartseva Irina University of Florida, nPOD
Yang Mingder University of Florida, nPOD
Clare-Salzler Michael University of Florida
     
Chapman Nora University of Nebraska Medical Center
Tracy Steven University of Nebraska Medical Center
Smithee Shane University of Nebraska Medical Center
Alhazmi Abdulaziz University of Nebraska Medical Center
     
Frisk Gun Uppsala University
Anagandula Mahesh Uppsala University
Sarimiento Luis Uppsala University
     
Giepmans Ben University Medical Center Groningen
Kalicharan Ruby University Medical Center Groningen
Kuipers Jeroen University Medical Center Groningen
Wolters Anouk University Medical Center Groningen
Jelmer Willems University Medical Center Groningen
     
Morgan Noel University of Exeter
Richardson Sarah University of Exeter
Dyahal Shalinee University of Exeter (until 2014)
Russell Mark University of Exeter
Leete Pia University of Exeter
     
Nadler Jerry Eastern Virginia Medical School
Morris Margaret Eastern Virginia Medical School
Nyalwidhe Julius Eastern Virginia Medical School
Burch Tayna Eastern Virginia Medical School
     
von Herrath Matthias La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology
Rodriguez-Calvo Teresa La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology
Sabouri Somayeh La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology
 Anquetil-Besnard Florence  La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology
     
Plagnol Vincent University College London Genetics Institute
Breuer Judith University College London
Depledge Daniel University College London
     
Dotta Francesco University of Siena
Sebastiani Guido University of Siena
Patti Aurora University of Siena
Nigi Laura University of Siena
Ventriglia Giuliana University of Siena
Mancarella Francesca University of Siena
     
Gerling Ivan University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Kakoola Dorothy University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Lenchik Nataliya University of Tennessee Health Science Center
     
Hyöty Heikki University of Tampere
Laiho Jutta University of Tampere
Oikarnen Maarit University of Tampere
     
Eizirik Decio Université libre de Bruxelles
OpDeBeeck Anne Université libre de Bruxelles
     
Lloyd Richard Baylor College of Medicine
Petrosino Joseph Baylor College of Medicine
     
Homann Dirk University of Colorado Denver
Kent Sally University of Massachusetts
Sarkar Suparna Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Toniolo Antonio University of Insubria Medical School
Gianani Roberto University of Chicago
Piemonti Lorenzo San Raffaele Scientific Institute
Horwitz Marc University of British Columbia
Marjomaki Varpu University of Jyväskylä
Flodström Tullberg Malin Karolinska Institute
Domsgen Erna Karolinska Institute
Larsson Pär Karolinska Institute