Federal Grant Award Summary

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies received a $935,059 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective May 20, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. The research focuses on engineering human islet-like organoids (HILOs) to provide a durable therapeutic strategy and potential cure for diabetes. The project deliverables include the development and optimization of immune-evasive HILOs through targeted expression of immune modulators (CD47 and CD200, alone or in combination with PD-L1 overexpression) and evaluation of pharmacological approaches to extend graft survival and function. Additional research outputs include characterization of immune cell responses contributing to graft loss and mechanisms by which immune-evasive strategies enhance graft survival.

The second major research component addresses insulin sensitivity improvements through testing of SALK101, a novel fibroblast growth factor 1 variant with improved pharmacology and reduced mitogenicity, in type 1 diabetes mouse models transplanted with HILOs. Research deliverables in this area include determination of the consequences of SALK101-driven blood glucose lowering and insulin sensitizing effects on transplanted cell survival and functionality, with the ultimate goal of establishing a clinically viable islet replacement therapy that eliminates the limitations of donor scarcity and lifelong immunosuppression requirements associated with traditional pancreatic islet transplantation.