Project Grant R01DK149715

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded the University of Florida $735,969 on August 10, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to develop and test microgels for localized immune control in beta cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes.

The work combines cell and biomaterials engineering to create stem cell-derived beta cells functionalized with negative regulators of immunity—specifically anti-CD3 and CD155 display—designed to resist autoimmune destruction upon transplantation. The recipient will conduct in vivo testing in diabetic mice with humanized immune systems to prevent immune rejection of grafted human stem cell-derived beta cells, and perform in vitro mechanistic studies using islet-reactive human T cells to explain how the therapy induces localized tolerance to beta cell antigens while promoting graft vascularization and engraftment.

Work is performed in Gainesville, Florida, with a period of performance through May 31, 2031. The award addresses a core NIDDK program objective of advancing fundamental and clinical research on the etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications, building on prior successes of stem cell-derived beta cells in animal models and human clinical trials by overcoming the shortage of donor islets available for transplantation.