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Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Selects CHOC
As "Major Affiliate"
CHOC is one of 15 institutions recently selected as a "major affiliate" of the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Network. Since 1996, CHOC has been an affiliate member of the group, which studies the development, prevention and early treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. TrialNet receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and American Diabetes Association.
This promotion places CHOC at the international forefront of diabetes research. Currently, CHOC is one of nine sites conducting a study assessing the efficacy of nutritional supplementation during pregnancy and shortly after birth. CHOC researchers are studying whether supplementation alters the immune system and prevents the onset of type 1 diabetes in babies determined to be at high risk because of a family history of the disease.
As close blood relatives face a 10 to 15 times greater risk of developing type 1 diabetes, the results could have profound implications.
"Our goal is to identify the people at highest risk and find out if intervention with early nutrition supplements can alter the role of diabetes later on," says pediatric endocrinologist Mark Daniels, M.D., who serves as principal investigator for the TrialNet study at CHOC. "CHOC will soon begin another prevention study assessing the efficacy of oral insulin in decreasing the chances of high-risk individuals converting to diabetes."
Two years ago, CHOC played a key role in the research and care for the very first patient enrolled in the TrialNet study assessing the use of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF/CellCept) and Daclizumab (DAB/Zenapax) to prevent the progression of diabetes.
"'Major affiliate' status will give us resources to identify families at risk for diabetes, and to apply our research and knowledge," Dr. Daniels says.
TYPE 1 DIABETES SIBLINGS NEEDED FOR STUDY
Do you have patients with a family history of type 1 diabetes? CHOC is participating in a TrialNet natural history study to learn more about the development of the disease.
For more information, please contact Heather Speer, CHOC Diabetes Education and Research, at 714-532-8613.
Children's Hospital of Orange County | 
University of California, Irvine