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September
2025 NEWSLETTER
| | RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH | | |
A New Engineered Immune Cell Type is Born: CHAR Tregs
Islet transplantation is the only available curative treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D). While islet transplant patients can live without exogenous insulin for several years, they must receive immunosuppressive drugs, characterized by multi-organ toxicity and increased risk of infections and cancer, and the transplant eventually gets rejected. Moreover, a significant subset of people has limited options when it comes to donor islets because they are HLA sensitized, that is they have large amounts of pre-existing antibodies against certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Sensitized patients cannot receive islets from donors positive for those HLA alleles. A team led by HIRN investigator Leonardo Ferreira at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, South Carolina, in collaboration with the University Hospital La Paz in Madrid, Spain, engineered chimeric anti-HLA receptor regulatory T cells (CHAR Tregs) that inhibit antibody production by B cells from HLA sensitized transplant patients, offering a precise approach to tackle antibody-mediated islet transplant rejection. CHAR Tregs hold the potential to bring HLA sensitized patients to a normal baseline of anti-HLA antibody levels and to delay chronic rejection of islet transplants.
Manuscript information: Valentín-Quiroga J, Zarauza-Santoveña A, López-Collazo E and Ferreira LMR (2025) Chimeric anti-HLA antibody receptor engineered human regulatory T cells suppress alloantigen-specific B cells from pre-sensitized transplant recipients. Front. Immunol. 16:1601385. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1601385
| | ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS | | |
The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) is now accepting applications for its Associate Membership Program, designed to welcome investigators with active, peer-reviewed funding who are conducting research aligned with HIRN’s mission to understand and restore islet function in type 1 diabetes. This program offers opportunities to collaborate with HIRN consortia, present research at annual meetings, and engage in interdisciplinary discussions that advance the field of islet biology and diabetes research.
Eligible applicants must be Principal Investigators on active grants that advance the mission of HIRN and committed to participating in HIRN activities, including meetings, consortium calls, and presentations. No additional funding is provided, but members gain access to a vibrant research network and professional development opportunities.
Applications are due by October 15, 2025, with membership beginning December 1, 2025.
For details or to apply visit our website HERE.
Please contact the HIRN Enhancement Center with questions.
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The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) announces new funding initiatives to support the use of existing HIRN datasets and resources to explore unique and innovative hypotheses designed to accelerate breakthroughs and advances in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) Data Scholars Award (DSA) Program provides:
- Funding for data-science centered or driven projects submitted via a streamlined process to the HIRN Human Islet Research Enhancement Center (HIREC). Projects will use existing datasets from HIRN and related T1D partner programs and/or resources to design studies or create resources that are responsive to specific initiatives in this announcement.
- Opportunities to collaborate with HIRN investigators and programs and efficiently exchange ideas and resources to accelerate innovation in T1D research.
Depending on the initiative (there are currently two opportunities), awardees will receive either $50,000 or $1,000. Learn more HERE.
KEY DATES
Application Due Date: November 1, 2025
Scientific Review: December 2025
Start Date: February 2026
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RFA-DK-26-009: New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The New Investigator Gateway Award in T1D Research is designed to support a robust pipeline of innovative projects and talented new investigators in T1D research. Embedding awardees within an established scientific framework in each of these consortia will provide unique opportunities for New and Early Stage Investigators to increase their understanding of key questions in the field, to network, and to establish unique and potentially long-lasting collaborations that will propel their careers forward. Bringing New and Early Stage Investigators into existing collaborative research networks also will benefit the networks by infusing new ideas and perspectives. *Foreign applications not allowed.
Application due date:
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Protocol for processing and analyzing multiplexed images improves lymphatic cell identification and spatial architecture in human tissue.
Multiplexed images of human lymphatic tissue are extensively preprocessed before cell phenotyping and spatial analysis. Here, we present KINTSUGI (knowledge integration with new technologies: simplified user-guided image processing), a protocol designed to interactively engage the user in each processing step to ensure quality control. We describe steps for parameter tuning and batch processing of raw image data including illumination correction, stitching, deconvolution, 3D-2D conversion, registration, and autofluorescence subtraction. We then detail procedures for segmentation, feature extraction, phenotyping, and spatial analysis.
Learn more HERE.
| | CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 2025 RACHMIEL LEVINE-ARTHUR RIGGS DIABETES RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM | | |
Register today to attend the 2025 Rachmiel Levine-Arthur Riggs Diabetes Research Symposium which will be held in Pasadena, California from November 14-17, 2025. Abstract authors are eligible for travel stipends, poster session presentation, and participation in the general program.
For more information, scan the QR code below or learn more HERE.
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PanKbase would like to come to your lab meeting! We are looking for ways to reach out to the larger diabetes community. We want to offer to send a representative from our team to meet with you and your team where we can demonstrate what the PanKbase platform can do for you. We would also love to discuss what your lab is interested in and where you might like to see our platform go in the future to make it work better for you. Reach out to us HERE.
In case you missed it: PanKbase members presented “PanKbase: A Centralized Knowledge Base of the Human Pancreas for Diabetes Research” at this month’s HIRN monthly webinar held August 12th. If you are interested and would like to watch, you can find a recording on the HIRN YouTube channel HERE.
| | Below is a summary of the most recent job postings by category (Faculty, Research Staff/Admin, Postdoc). Visit the HIRN Website for a full listing of job opportunities. | | |
The Leuven Diabetes Lab is seeking an ambitious Principal Investigator with a strong background in immunology or beta-cell biology to join, and ultimately take over, leadership of the lab, currently headed by Prof. Chantal Mathieu and managed by Dr. Conny Gysemans. The lab’s mission is to advance the understanding and treatment of type 1 diabetes through innovative research, spanning beta-cell preservation, immune modulation, and translational approaches.
As part of this position, candidates may be eligible for enhanced ERC funding, recently expanded to support top global researchers relocating to Europe, making this a unique opportunity for outstanding scientists from the US or other countries to establish a high-impact research program in a world-class environment. Join us in shaping the future of type 1 diabetes research and working toward a world without type 1 diabetes. Interested candidates should send a CV and brief description of research interests to Dr. Chantal Mathieu and Dr. Conny Gysemans.
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Research Associate II
The laboratory of Dr. Melanie Shapiro at City of Hope is seeking a Research Associate to investigate the genetics and immunology of type 1 diabetes. Current projects include investigating germline genetic variants predicting response to immunotherapies as well as somatic variants in the pancreas and immune cells of organ donors. A master’s or bachelor’s degree and laboratory experience required. Additional experience in immunology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should send a CV and brief description of research interests to
Dr. Melanie Shapiro.
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Postdoctoral Position
The Dr. Jeffrey Millman laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the team. This researcher will lead an exciting new project focused on vascularized stem cell-derived islets for diabetes disease modeling and cell replacement therapy. Qualified candidates are encouraged to email Dr. Millman with their CV and cover letter.
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Postdoctoral Position
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is offering fellowships to outstanding postdoctoral researchers currently working at U.S. universities or non-university research institutions who are interested in relocating their research to leading institutions in Austria.
A total of 25 fellowships is available for Austrian universities and non-university research institutions recognized for their research excellence. Candidates must be nominated by the host institution in Austria.
With the nomination, the host institution commits to:
- Covering 25% of the fellowship cost (equivalent to EUR 125,000)
- Employing the fellow for the full duration of the fellowship
Interested candidates should send a CV and a brief description of their research interests to Dr. Marjan Slak Rupnik.
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