The cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown and is a central focus of Boston College Assistant Professor of Biology Emrah Altindis and others in his field hoping to find new ways to help 1.6 million Americans living with the chronic autoimmune disease, a group that is expected to increase to 5 million people by 2050.
While genetics studies have identified mutations that increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes, the gene pool alone cannot fully explain who is susceptible to the disease. Altindis and colleagues have been probing the interconnectedness of gut microbiota, the immune system, and the pancreas in the search for answers and a lead on potential paths to combat the disease, which disables the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels.
