Harvesting the Seeds from Funding Type 1 Diabetes Research

00:00:00:

00:00:13: There's a real buzz this year about the potential for prevention of type one diabetes.

00:00:19: That something that five years ago we simply wouldn't have been talking And I wanted to bring into the studio some of the people who've been involved in pushing for that.

00:00:31: The voluntary sector, the charities that have been funding this work has been absolutely critical towards development.

00:00:38: so i'm very pleased to welcome into our studio Elizabeth Roberts whose director of research and clinical at Diabetes UK and Rachel Connor, who's Director of Research Partnerships at what is now Breakthrough T-One D. That's right!

00:01:01: And actually the very fact that you changed your name says everything about the state of excitement we're in now.

00:01:09: So let us talk to you first of all Elizabeth.

00:01:15: What are you seeing this Congress?

00:01:21: people living with diabetes?

00:01:23: As you said, I mean five years ago if we came to ESD the buzz was all around technology and in the UK.

00:01:29: We now have hybrid closed loop being rolled out today yesterday tomorrow The buzz is all about immunotherapies of the potential to prevent the potential delay which for some People In a research setting it's already happening.

00:01:44: so Living with type one, family members and for future generations we are now starting to offer real hope that in the future will be able to identify people at risk very early intervene.

00:01:58: And therefore which is so exciting for all of us actually start to think about prevention of type

00:02:05: I. When you have these preventive methods or at least delaying methods let's talk.

00:02:16: You then also have to think about screening, and that's becoming quite an area of interest.

00:02:23: We have a particular trial in the UK you might want to talk about?

00:02:26: That

00:02:26: is absolutely right!

00:02:28: Together we are co-funding the ELSA study which is a programme looking at the feasibility of implementing screening for type one diabetes so basically detecting the condition early but not detecting it before its started entirely.

00:02:44: We're picking up when the body's already starting to attack itself through the autoimmune process of type one diabetes, but we are doing it before people need insulin therapy and that is a key window where you can do so much really change their lives before this condition gets

00:03:03: going.".

00:03:04: The fascinating thing was The idea that you could delay wasn't even thought of.

00:03:11: I mean, the principal thing behind it was... You wanted a soft landing for particularly children who developed type one and trying to avoid keto-astatic crisis?

00:03:24: That was the aim, i think, originally

00:03:27: There were definitely...that was part of the aim but at Breakthrough II we've been funding studies which are now leading those immune therapies more than fifteen years.

00:03:37: So we knew that there was this possibility, it's tantalising on the horizon and so those dual impacts straight away if someone knows they're at risk of going onto what we now call stage three.

00:03:51: type one diabetes is a classical clinical diagnosis of condition We know just knowing their risks can help prevent diabetic ketoacidosis as you said.

00:04:05: But we always knew that the goal was not just to know about it, but change.

00:04:10: And these disease modifying therapies really offer that and they're tantalisingly on the horizon for people who live with risk of type one diabetes.

00:04:23: Now, I've been reporting for many years about islet transplants and stem cell therapies.

00:04:29: And they're going to happen in three or five years...and i have been saying that it's gonna take a very long time.

00:04:34: but suddenly here we are!

00:04:37: Tell us more about some of the excitement coming from stem cells, islets and transplants.

00:04:43: So we've again in partnership been running a type one grand challenge.

00:04:48: In the UK and internationally for the last two or three years in cell therapies, in particular would be building a consortium around cell therapies.

00:04:56: on again five years ago.

00:04:59: thinking about that week could have stem cell derived beta cells, which are going to be able to survive in people produce insulin and make people insulin-dependent.

00:05:09: In the future is so exciting!

00:05:11: So the trials are unrunning.

00:05:13: we're starting to see inhuman trials that us as starting show real promise.

00:05:19: I think it's really important also same with immunotherapies what we've managed to do charities bring community together build consortium share learning faster together.

00:05:32: And that's what we're seeing at the conference here, it is this community effort with breakthroughs which hopefully are going to actually make a difference for people lives and those who live in type one have potential to start receiving cells which will survive and produce insulin which makes them transform their life.

00:05:50: Some of these stem cell therapies being considered do not take immunosuppressants.

00:05:56: I mean, that's a key point.

00:05:58: Yeah

00:05:58: so there is such clever work going on really trying to protect those cells in different ways.

00:06:07: Hypoimmune?

00:06:08: Because yeah if you have to continually take immunosuppression and you've got all of the side effects then it's not ideal.

00:06:14: And also encapsulation where actually try to physically protect those cell.

00:06:19: but again thats very different.

00:06:20: But what we need are these different approaches pushing forward together and maybe coming together at some point.

00:06:27: And for individuals, I mean Chantel-Machur talked about personalization and precision.

00:06:32: this is what we're moving towards.

00:06:33: understanding you me if were in that position?

00:06:36: What the best cell therapy or most effective therapy will be going to work with you?

00:06:42: it's probably different.

00:06:44: Now i'm glad you've mentioned Chantelle Machur because she of course a very well known in the type one field but Charities are hugely important to this.

00:06:55: And she's also been very, well... She has been ferocious in her pursuit of policymakers because it is no good having a therapy if you then can't get into patience.

00:07:07: and I think that one the great strengths of charities clinicians, but principally with people living with the condition?

00:07:18: That's absolutely right.

00:07:19: And I think both our organisations in the UK and more widely around the world it's harnessing and presenting what people with type one diabetes wants and need from their therapy and representing them.

00:07:36: so we know that insulin therapy is a lifesaver but it's not a cure and we need to push toward world where you're not having to manage your condition with insulin day in, day out making all of those decisions.

00:07:52: And were at the inflection point when can see these therapies that will make change happen?

00:07:57: It is wonderful being scientific conference seeing evidence new ideas coming

00:08:04: up.

00:08:04: The sessions are packed

00:08:07: absolutely packed.

00:08:09: That's the excitement of health care professionals, but also how do we get this into people living with type one diabetes who don't come to these conferences.

00:08:23: And research trials are what we do.

00:08:25: We fund those, but until it's really in the clinic throughout our countries and anyone can access the right therapy for them—it isn't job done from our organisations —we have to keep pushing at that

00:08:37: point.".

00:08:44: fantastic clinical trial systems, a fantastic single NHS system.

00:08:48: But they need to be ready.

00:08:50: this is great

00:08:50: advocate.

00:08:51: in part the car

00:08:52: and absolutely who you know again like Chantel has been really pushing for hybrid closed loop.

00:08:57: and look where we are now.

00:08:59: that's transforming people's lives.

00:09:01: so This Is Coming.

00:09:01: Now We can see it coming And we Need as A Country In As A World To Realize That this excitement, these breakthroughs are within touching distance.

00:09:12: and you're absolutely right.

00:09:14: The research needs to continue.

00:09:15: we need to continue find new cell therapies, new immunotherapies but equally we need start implement for those where it will work at the moment.

00:09:23: then we've got bring industry with us also government

00:09:26: fantastic

00:09:28: Yes, and it is that partnership I think.

00:09:31: We talk a lot about partnership in research building collaborations but it's partnership between researchers practicing clinicians policy makers And the government systems which throughout much of the world fund healthcare to bring those realities To people who live with diabetes and change their lives.

00:09:53: And I should add that we can't do any of our work without our support.

00:09:57: The very same thing, it's the generosity Living with diabetes without diabetes who actually make your work possible and T-one D has had some very important donors who've put a lot of money into.

00:10:16: Yes, Elizabeth mentioned the grand challenge that we have running within the UK at moment.

00:10:21: this is only been made possible by fantastic fifty million pounds commitment to the Grand Challenge through The Steve Morgan Foundation, which has been established by Steven Sallie-Morgan and funds fantastic work across the northeast of England.

00:10:39: Sorry North West of England but it's moved into the type one diabetes space because that family connection like so many people who support our organisations is an understanding what a lived experience with diabetes means motivates and drives people to make that change possible through our work?

00:10:58: Well,

00:10:58: you do a great job in your respective organisations.

00:11:02: Thank you so much!

00:11:03: And how great it is be able go back and take such positive message for all the people who support you and rely on you.

00:11:12: There will more from us very

00:11:16: soon.

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