VTT, Turku University Hospital and Gothenburg University are studying how gut microbes affect the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The three-year project started in September 2008, its aim being the prevention of type 1 diabetes.
To achieve this goal the scientists will be using gut microbiota as a target.
The project is motivated by VTT's discovery of early metabolic signatures predictive of later progression to autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes.
These metabolic signatures suggest the potential role of gut microbiota in early T1D pathogenesis.
Therefore, the aim is to discover specific microbes or lack of them associated with later progression to T1D, and to utilise that information for developing new prevention strategies.
If the tests for the prevention strategies are successful the intervention can be considered for clinical stages.
