GAD

UCLA Neuroscience Research Leads to a Possible Treatment for Type I Diabetes; Clinical Trial Results Are Encouraging

My sister sent me some facinating research that was published in the UCLA alumni newletter about a new vaccine being tested in human clinical trials for Type 1 Diabetes.

Two neuroscientists isolated the genes for enzymes known as GAD (glutamic acid decarboxylase) which are made in the cells that that make insulin in the pancreas. These cells use the enzyme made by GAD to help control the blood glucose levels. The hope is that by isolating this enzyme they will be able to develop a vaccine, identify the potential for getting diabetes as early as five years before onset occurs, and eventually prevent diabetes once an onset has begun.

This is the link. It is a long article, but worth reading
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?relnum=7329

This is the company that is making the vaccine.
"Diamyd Medical is focused on developing treatments for diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, via GAD protein therapy. Its lead drug candidate, Diamyd™, is designed to reduce the need of insulin injections and prevent the destruction of beta cells. Furthermore, it may allow for regeneration of beta cells in a non-autoimmune environment, thus setting the stage for a cure of the disease."
http://www.diamyd.com/