New $2.8 Million Center Aims to Prevent Heart and Kidney Complications in Type 1 Diabetes

Breakthrough T1D announced a $2.8 million funding award to expand its Center of Excellence, combining efforts at the University of Michigan and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The joint center, called the Breakthrough T1D U-M-OHSU Cardiorenal Center of Excellence, builds on five years of research already underway at the University of Michigan.

The center will be led by Matthias Kretzler, M.D., at the University of Michigan, and Rodica Pop-Busui, M.D., Ph.D., at Oregon Health & Science University. This partnership allows the two institutions to pool expertise and resources toward a shared goal: understanding and treating complications of Type 1 diabetes that affect the heart and kidneys.

Many people with Type 1 diabetes develop complications affecting the heart and kidneys over time. Despite advances in understanding these conditions, researchers identified a critical gap: there has been limited testing of potential new therapies specifically in people with Type 1 diabetes.

The new center will address this gap by establishing a clinical trial platform designed to test several heart and kidney therapies in people living with Type 1 diabetes. This targeted approach means treatments can be evaluated in the population that would actually use them, potentially leading to more effective therapies for preventing or slowing these complications.

Beyond testing existing therapies, the center will advance work in precision medicine—an approach focused on determining which treatments work best for which patients. The ultimate goal is to develop the ability to match the right person with the right therapy at the right time.

This research direction reflects a shift in how Type 1 diabetes care might evolve, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches toward personalized strategies based on individual differences in disease progression and response to treatment.

The University of Michigan Center of Excellence has spent the last five years conducting research across multiple areas: beta cell replacement therapies, automated insulin delivery systems, psychosocial health, metabolic control, and long-term complications affecting the eyes, heart, and kidneys.

The expansion to OHSU allows this work to continue and deepen, with a specific emphasis on heart and kidney health. The three-year funding period signals a sustained commitment to moving these research advances toward real-world therapies that could benefit people living with Type 1 diabetes.

Origin: news.ohsu.edu (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.