IBRI IN THE NEWS: IBRI Researchers Find Opportunity to Repurpose Drugs for Type 1 Diabetes

January 28, 2021

Source: BioSpace

More than 7% of Americans suffer from debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening autoimmune diseases. With diagnoses on the rise, researchers continue the quest for more effective treatments and the ultimate dream – a cure. A team led by Dr. Decio Eizirik, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Director for Indiana Biosciences Research Institute Diabetes Center, has taken a step back from the traditional immune system study approach and found potential for treatment and, theoretically, even a cure.

Eizirik met with BioSpace to share his insights on a recent collaborative study published in Science Advances this month. He believes the popular approach to autoimmune disease, studying the immune system alone, is handicapping researchers.

“We must move away from the present “immune-centric-only” view of autoimmune diseases,” Eizirik said. “Indeed, trying to understand these diseases focusing on the immune system only, and forgetting the target tissues, may be similar to attempting to fly a plane with only one wing.”

To read the full article, go to BioSpace.