nPOD KQ Group: Is there a difference between type 1 diabetes in children and adults?
The goal of this group is to improve our understanding of the differences between type 1 diabetes in children and adults. Pathological and clinical studies and lived experience of type 1 diabetes clearly demonstrate marked differences between individuals diagnosed as young children versus those diagnosed as adults.
We hypothesize that the structural and functional maturation stage of both the pancreatic microenvironment, and key immune system compartments, at the time autoimmunity is initiated is critical in determining differences between individuals diagnosed with diabetes at different ages. The group will address key knowledge gaps in early-life pancreas and immune system compartment development (see figures). Using state-of-the-art technologies, they will work with experts worldwide to leverage insights from the unique nPOD biobank.
We are open to new teams joining the group, so if you feel you have important insights/ data that could expand our understanding, please reach out.
Leaders
This group is co-led by Dr. Sarah Richardson (University of Exeter, UK) and Dr. Todd Brusko (University of Florida, USA).
Dr. Sarah Richardson
University of Exeter, UK
Sarah Richardson is an associate professor at the University of Exeter with a passionate interest in Type 1 diabetes and Team Science. She co-leads the Islet Biology Exeter (IBEx) group. Her research utilizes unique cohorts of type 1 diabetes pancreas and is centered around understanding the disease processes by which beta cells are targeted and destroyed. She has particular interests in the role that enteroviruses and anti-viral responses play in the disease, and how age at diagnosis may impact diabetes endotypes. She curates the Exeter Archival Diabetes Biobank, which contains the most extensive and rarest collection of recent-onset Type 1 diabetes pancreata globally. She has held prestigious Fellowships from the Wellcome Trust, the Diabetes Research Wellness Foundation, a Breakthrough T1D 5-year Career Development Award and was recently awarded a Steve Morgan Foundation Grand Challenge Senior Research Fellowship.
Dr. Todd Brusko
University of Florida
Dr. Todd Brusko appointed as a professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida. He currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Basic Research for the College of Medicine and the Research Director of the UF Diabetes Institute. His interests are centrally themed around understanding the mechanisms by which the immune system maintains a state of control, often referred to as immunological tolerance. This includes studies of the innate and adaptive immune system, with a particular focus on adaptive immune receptor diversity and control through co-stimulation and understanding the genetic variants controlling these processes, as well as identifying the mechanisms at play in individuals who develop immune-mediated diseases. Toward this goal, Dr. Brusko has been involved in several team science projects including the Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes program (Breakthrough T1D – nPOD), the Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP –NIH Directors Fund), NIH Human Islet Research Network -HPAP program, and the Human Atlas for Neonatal and Developmental Early Life – Immunity (HANDEL-I) program supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust.