Science News from research organizations A bold new plan could finally cure type 1 diabetes A daring new therapy aims to cure type 1 diabetes by rebuilding insulin cells — and training the immune system to protect them. Date: March 2, 2026 Source: Medical University of South Carolina Summary: Researchers are developing a two-part therapy for type 1 diabetes: lab-made insulin-producing cells paired with custom-engineered immune cells that protect them. The goal is to stop the immune system from destroying transplanted cells — without using immunosuppressive drugs. Backed by $1 million in funding, the team hopes to create a ready-to-use treatment that could work even for people who have had diabetes for years. The approach could transform how the disease is treated. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Scientists are pairing stem cell–derived insulin-producing cells with engineered immune “bodyguards” to protect them from autoimmune attack. The strategy aims to free people with type 1 diabetes from daily insulin injections and move closer to a real cure. Credit: Shutterstock At the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), researcher Leonardo Ferreira, Ph.D., is leading an ambitious effort to change how type 1 diabetes (T1D) is treated. Backed by $1 million from Breakthrough T1D, a leading global research and advocacy organization, Ferreira and collaborators at partner institutions are testing a new strategy aimed at treating and potentially curing the disease. Their approach brings together stem cell science, immunology, and transplantation research. The central goal is straightforward but bold: restore insulin-producing beta cells in people with T1D without requiring immunosuppressive drugs. "These awards support the most promising work that can significantly advance the path to cures for type 1 diabetes," said Ferreira. "This is what Breakthrough T1D believes is the next wave in type 1 diabetes therapy." Engineering the Immune System to Protect Insulin Cells Ferreira specializes in modifying the immune system using chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs. These engineered receptors help guide regulatory T cells, known as Tregs, to specific targets in the body. Tregs play an essential role in keeping immune responses under control and preventing excessive damage, including the autoimmune attack seen in T1D. In simple terms, they act like bodyguards, preventing the immune system from going too far and harming healthy tissue. He is working alongside two prominent collaborators. Holger Russ, Ph.D., associate professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Florida, is a leader in stem cell research for T1D. Many scientists view this field as the future of transplantation because stem cells can provide a virtually unlimited supply of islet cells for research and clinical use. Michael Brehm, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, completes the team. He is known for developing humanized mouse models that help researchers study human immune and metabolic responses in T1D. What Happens in Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells. Without these cells, the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. People with T1D must closely monitor their glucose and rely on insulin injections to survive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.5 million Americans live with the disease. Over time, it can lead to serious complications, including nerve damage, blindness, coma, and even death. The new Breakthrough T1D award builds on a 2021 Discovery Pilot grant from the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR), which first brought Ferreira and Russ together. That early support laid the groundwork for this larger project, which could significantly reshape how T1D is treated. A Two Part Cellular Therapy Strategy In T1D, beta cells are destroyed because the immune system no longer recognizes them as part of the body. For patients with severe cases that are difficult to control with exogenous insulin, doctors can perform islet cell transplants, which include beta cells. However, this option faces two major challenges. First, islet transplants depend on donor tissue, and there are not enough beta cells available. To address this shortage, the research team is producing its own stem cell derived islet cells in the laboratory. The second problem is immune rejection. Transplanted beta cells, like any foreign tissue, can be attacked by the immune system. This is where Ferreira's immune engineering expertise becomes essential. Tregs naturally help calm immune responses. Ferreira modifies these cells with a CAR that recognizes a specific surface protein placed on the beta cells. This works like a GPS signal, directing the Tregs precisely to the transplanted cells. Once there, the engineered Tre