Type 1 diabetes researchers have made great progress in understanding the disease in the last two decades, even as a cure remains elusive.

Now they have something that benefits any scientific effort.

It’s a map.

University of Florida Health scientists have created one of the most detailed maps yet of gene activity in the pancreas of people with Type 1 diabetes. The map shows which genes are turned on, or expressed, and where they are active within the organ, helping researchers pinpoint the biological signals driving the disease.

Read more about UF Health Study Maps Hidden Immune Signals in Type 1 Diabetes.

The UF Diabetes Institute is a globally recognized incubator for some of the most promising researchers in diabetes, particularly Type 1.

Type 1 diabetes is thought to result from an autoimmune reaction in which the body interprets insulin-producing beta cells as foreign invaders and destroys them, leading to insufficient insulin production and unstable blood sugar levels. This differs from Type 2 diabetes, in which a person’s body doesn’t respond appropriately to insulin, causing glucose to remain in the bloodstream.

The ROSF awards, a university-wide grant program, are given to principal investigators on multidisciplinary, faculty-initiated research projects arising from partnerships across departments and colleges. Winning proposals push science to the next level and have strong potential for extramural support.

“The academic biomedical research enterprise is primarily fueled by grants awarded to investigators from private foundations and public agencies,” Todd Brusko, a professor in the Department of Pathology, UF’s 2024 Research Opportunity Seed Fund(ROSF) awards are given to principal investigators on multidisciplinary, faculty-initiated research projects. Immunology, laboratory medicine, and the assistant dean for basic research said, “Successful grant applications typically require some compelling preliminary data demonstrating feasibility.”