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At Diabetes Research Connection (DRC), we’re not just funding research—we’re fueling bold ideas that could transform how we understand, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). One of those bold ideas comes from Dr. Kristen Lavelle, an early-career physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco.
Her project tackles one of the biggest questions in diabetes science:
Can understanding our genes help us stop type 1 diabetes before it starts?
The Genetics Behind T1D Risk
We know that T1D is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. But while researchers have identified many gene variants associated with increased T1D risk, we still don’t fully understand how those genes influence the development of the disease.
That’s where Dr. Lavelle’s research comes in.
She’s using cutting-edge techniques to analyze how specific genetic variants affect gene expression in immune cells. By studying these variants in human cells and validated T1D mouse models, she hopes to uncover how certain genes contribute to the immune system’s attack on insulin-producing beta cells.
This research could provide a crucial link between genetic risk and disease onset—a link that has long remained elusive.
From Risk to Prevention
If we can pinpoint which gene variants are not only associated with T1D but actively drive disease development, we may be able to develop new therapies that target those pathways.
Imagine a future where doctors can identify high-risk individuals—perhaps even before symptoms appear—and offer targeted treatments to delay or prevent the onset of T1D altogether.
Dr. Lavelle’s work brings us one step closer to that future.
Why It Matters Now
This project is still in its early stages. That’s exactly why DRC exists: to support innovative research from early-career scientists who are asking the right questions—long before their work attracts large-scale funding.
By investing in research like Dr. Lavelle’s, we’re not just chasing a cure—we’re changing the timeline for how T1D is detected, understood, and possibly prevented.
How You Can Help
Every breakthrough starts with a first step—and that first step often comes from researchers like Dr. Lavelle. Your support helps DRC fund promising new projects that might otherwise go overlooked.
If you believe in the power of science to change lives, we invite you to be part of the solution:
- Donate directly to Dr. Lavelle’s project and help us advance the next generation of type 1 diabetes research.
- Subscribe to DRC updates
- Share this post with your network
Together, we can create a future where type 1 diabetes never has a chance to begin.
