# New approach for immune modulation against T1D

> **NIH NIH R44** · EVOQ THERAPEUTICS, INC. · 2024 · $756,491

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that affects 1 in 300 people by the age of 18 in the US. T1D is
characterized by acute onset of hyperglycemia resulting from immune-mediated destruction of the insulin-
producing β-cells in the pancreas. There is currently no cure for T1D and the disease requires constant
management where the current standard of care/management is injected or pumped insulin. Thus, there is an
urgent need for new and effective treatment options for T1D patients. While self-reactive CD4 and CD8 T cells
are central pathogenic drivers, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to restrain autoimmunity and maintain
immune tolerance through multiple mechanisms. In T1D patients, impaired Treg function have been shown to
contribute to disease susceptibility. Thus, induction of Tregs holds great promise in correcting the aberrant
autoreactive T cell activities and preventing the progression of T1D. However, it remains unknown how to induce
Tregs in a safe and effective manner for the potential treatment of T1D. Here, we propose to develop a novel
strategy for immunotherapy against T1D. Toward this goal, we have developed synthetic high-density lipoprotein
NanoDiscs that are particularly well suited for lymph node targeting. Our preliminary data generated in a murine
model of T1D and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis have shown that NanoDiscs carrying antigens
only induce robust Treg response and achieve immune tolerance. Based on our compelling proof-of-concept
data, we propose to develop NanoDiscs carrying antigens to promote antigen-specific immune tolerance against
T1D. The proposed research will provide a new strategy for modulating immune microenvironment of pancreas
and an avenue for immune tolerance against T1D.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931397
- **Project number:** 5R44DK135218-02
- **Recipient organization:** EVOQ THERAPEUTICS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Weston Daniel
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $756,491
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-20 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931397, New approach for immune modulation against T1D (5R44DK135218-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931397. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*