Overview
- Medical University of South Carolina researchers led by Leonardo Ferreira received $1 million from Breakthrough T1D to pair stem cell–derived beta cells with CAR-engineered regulatory T cells designed to protect the graft.
- Humanized-mouse studies of the MUSC approach showed protection lasting up to one month, prompting expanded work to extend benefit and refine dosing and delivery.
- University of Chicago scientists reported a nanoparticle system that delivers PD-L1 mRNA to beta cells, delaying disease in mice and showing activity in models using human beta-cell transplants.
- The UChicago findings were published in Cell Reports Medicine and the study was funded by Breakthrough T1D and the National Institutes of Health.
- Researchers emphasize potential to avoid systemic immunosuppression and to scale lab-grown cell supplies, though both strategies require further safety and translational studies before any human trials.