# Elucidating mechanisms of checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes

> **NIH NIH K08** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $173,515

## Abstract

Abstract:
This K08 proposal will expedite the principal investigator’s progress towards her goal of becoming an
independent physician-scientist with a focus on increasing our understanding of mechanisms of immune
related adverse events (irAEs) induced by checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) immunotherapies and identifying
therapeutic targets of these complications. Candidate: Dr. Ana Perdigoto is a physician-scientist at Yale
University School of Medicine. She completed clinical fellowship in Endocrinology and postdoctoral training in
Immunology. She is developing an expertise at the crossroads of immuno-endocrinology and immuno-
oncology through her work on investigating mechanisms of CPI-induced diabetes (CPI-DM), a complication
that arises in cancer patients treated with immunotherapies targeting checkpoint inhibitors. Under the
mentorship of Dr. Kevan Herold, a world-renowned Endocrinologist and Immunologist with authority on the
immunology of type 1 diabetes and CPI-DM, Dr. Perdigoto investigated how immune cells modify pancreatic
islets to cause CPI-DM. She will leverage the skills gained during her training to further analyze mechanisms of
these irAEs. Career Development Plan: Dr. Perdigoto will pursue the research in this proposal under the
primary mentorship of Dr. Herold. She will also have the guidance of an intramural and extramural advisory
team with various areas of expertise and experience in nurturing independent investigators. Yale University
provides a collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and resources and excellent training
environment and opportunities. The proposed 5-year plan builds on Dr. Perdigoto’s prior experience and
further enriches her training to provide the tools needed for establishing independence, such as proficiency in
bioinformatics and analysis of genomic data, knowledge in mouse genetics, and productive collaborations.
Research Plan: The overall premises addressed in this proposal are that interactions of immune and islet cells
in the tissue microenvironment lead to the development of CPI-DM (investigated in Specific Aim 1) and that
tumor can impact autoimmunity, potentially through presentation of shared antigens (investigated in Specific
Aim 2). Upon completion of the research proposed, Dr. Perdigoto will be able to: 1) characterize immune-target
cell interactions that lead to autoimmunity 2) analyze novel tumor models with regards to the impact of
immunotherapies and tumor on autoimmunity and 3) identify potential therapeutic targets to prevent adverse
events without impacting tumor responses. The findings will enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of
CPI-DM as well as other irAEs arising from CPI treatment. After completing the proposed training, Dr.
Perdigoto will have acquired the expertise required to become an independent investigator poised to continue
translational studies that can lead to the development of diagnostic or therapeutic tools to protect target cells
from the effects...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10723194
- **Project number:** 1K08CA282972-01
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ana Luisa Jordao Perdigoto
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $173,515
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-18 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10723194

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10723194, Elucidating mechanisms of checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes (1K08CA282972-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10723194. Licensed CC0.

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