Description

Breakthrough T1D supports academic and industry investigators developing strategies that limit post-transplant stress on islet cells or improve their resilience to it. Transplanted cells face limited oxygen and nutrients, which can reduce graft mass and function. The program aims to improve cell survival and long-term therapeutic performance, potentially reducing required cell doses and manufacturing costs. It complements the funder’s work on manufacturing, immune protection, vascularization, and the foreign body response.

Relevant approaches include beta cell-intrinsic genetic modifications, treatments before or after transplantation targeting hypoxia, cytokine or metabolic stress, and transplant applications of agents already shown to support endogenous beta cell survival. Priority goes to projects with validated targets, identified lead programs, and clear clinical translation plans, particularly those using manufactured cells with benchmarked functional metrics.