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Diabetes autoantibodies are proteins that appear when the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are damaged. They are the most reliable indicator that a person is likely to develop T1D in future.
With a grant of £610,480 from Diabetes UK, the Oxford team will build a database and a website that people can use to join the registry. The registry is unique as it will include individuals identified from clinical care and those from research platforms around the UK. Recruitment to the registry is expected to start later in 2024.
The aims of the registry are to:
- Tell people about new treatments and opportunities to take part in research to prevent T1D, such as testing immunotherapy treatments that could prevent or delay the condition
- Better understand what it’s like being at high risk of T1D and develop resources to support people, to avoid anxiety and worry
- Provide guidance for doctors on how best to care and support people who are at risk
- Collect data on how T1D develops and understand why people progress from being antibody positive and at risk of T1D to needing insulin.
- Understand whether being at risk causes people to attend their GP or A&E more often