Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded University of Colorado-Denver a $429,000 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028. The award supports research to develop a humanized mouse model incorporating human cathepsin D enzyme to advance understanding of Type 1 Diabetes autoimmune mechanisms. Specifically, the research will investigate how hybrid insulin peptides (HIPs)—molecules formed when insulin fragments fuse with other proteins—contribute to beta cell destruction in diabetes. By replacing the mouse version of cathepsin D with the human variant in genetically modified mice, the research team aims to create a model that more closely mimics human disease pathology and identify how environmental factors influence HIP formation and disease progression.

The research deliverables include characterization of the newly developed humanized mouse model, comparative analysis of HIP formation under varying pH conditions between human and mouse enzyme variants, and scientific findings regarding the relationship between cathepsin D species-specific regulation and Type 1 Diabetes development. These outputs are intended to provide insights into disease mechanisms and potentially identify new prevention or treatment strategies by elucidating why human and mouse diabetes presentations differ pathologically, with the research being conducted at the University of Colorado-Denver campus in Aurora, Colorado.