Dr. von Herrath uncovered that using a proinsulin peptide or islet-antigen expressing DNA vaccines in conjunction with an anti-CD3 antibody intended to dampen the autoimmune response helped the body to boost the efficacy of both treatments, while cutting down on the unwanted side effects. In mouse models, this combined therapy was able to reverse recent on-set diabetes. The DNA vaccines are currently being developed for the clinic in collaboration with BayHill Therapeutics and Genentech. In addition, Dr. von Herrath's team is studying how introducing immune response modifiers, such as "cytokines" or certain antibodies, to get the immune system back on track. His laboratory is supported by the NIH, JDRF, ADA and Brehm Coalition. Dr. von Herrath is the Director of the Center for Type 1 Diabetes Research at LIAI and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at UCSD. Dr. von Herrath's research focuses on strategies to prevent type 1 diabetes through the induction of regulatory T cells. Dr. von Herrath wrote his thesis in the field of Biochemistry and then received his M.D. in Medicine from the Freiburg Medical School in Freiburg, Germany in 1988. He did his residency work at the Freiburg Medical Center in the Internal Medicine/Immunology department and at the Diakonic Hospital's Intensive Care Unit in Freiburg. For his postdoctoral work, Dr. von Herrath went to The Scripps Research Institute and worked in its Neuropharmacology and Immunology departments. Dr. von Herrath is an editor and reviewer for numerous publications as well as being a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and a Council Member for the International Diabetes Society. In addition, he is the recipient of the 2006 Grotzky Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, a 2007-2012 Scholar Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the recipient of the outstanding scientific ('Lilly') achievement award by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2008.
|
|||
Message