The quest for a world without Type 1 Diabetes
Poppy and her brother Charlie.
Poppy just turned 8 years old. Despite her young age, she has likely provided more saliva, blood, wee and poo research samples than most people ever will in their lives. Why? Because Poppy is involved in a study where she and her family share the vision of our researchers that one day, we will know what causes Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and we will have ways to prevent it.
We have made considerable progress on this quest but the puzzle of what causes T1D and along with this, finding ways to prevent it, has many pieces.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a life-long autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own insulin producing cells. Without enough insulin, the body uses body fat as fuel, causing a buildup of acids in the bloodstream called ketones. Left untreated, the buildup can lead to a life-threatening condition called ketoacidosis. T1D requires on-going insulin therapy and management which has a significant impact on a person's day-to-day life. The early stages of T1D can be detected in the first few years of life, so interventions to prevent it need to begin early, perhaps even before birth.
ENDIA – the world’s first and largest study of its kind
Twelve years ago, the ENDIA* study commenced. Led by researchers from the Robinson Research Institute, this Australian based study is the world’s first and largest study tracking children from pregnancy to childhood. 1,500 babies with an immediate relative who has T1D - this could be mum, dad or a sibling - were tracked from less than six months of age. Most, like Poppy whose brother has T1D, were enrolled before they were born and will be followed up until they turn 10 years old.
Beyond biological samples from children, the study collects comprehensive data on both parents, the pregnancy, birth and early childhood, as well as genetic information from ENDIA families.
Poppy's ENDIA journey
Looking for the needle(s) in the haystack, but in a very methodical way
Having a direct family member with T1D, all ENDIA participants have increased risk for developing T1D, but relatively few (an estimated 6%) will develop the condition. By comparing and looking for why this is the case, ENDIA researchers hope to uncover modifiable factors that either trigger or protect against the development of the condition. These factors could then be targeted with strategies to prevent the onset of T1D in early life.
The key areas of focus in the search for these modifiable factors include how someone’s genes and their environment interact with each other from pregnancy through to early childhood, focusing on things like growth, nutrition, and the influence of particular bacteria and viruses (the microbiome) on developing T1D.
The unique data set of the ENDIA study has recently been made available to other national and global T1D research teams in the hope to deliver more results, more quickly.
If ENDIA’s vision becomes reality, children like Poppy would receive early intervention treatments that prevent the onset of T1D or slow down the path to insulin injections which she knows all too well from living with her brother Charlie who has Type 1 Diabetes.
You can make a difference
Recruitment for this study has closed but you can help advance research in the areas of Child & Adolescent health, Pregnancy & Birth and Fertility & Conception by donating to the Robinson Research Institute.
For more information about the ENDIA study, visit www.endia.org.au.
* Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity