Trump Management Reinstated Funding for Landmark Diabetes Study After Initial Halt
WASHINGTON – Funding for a multi-center clinical trial investigating ways to prevent type 1 diabetes was restored by the Trump administration in 2018, following a temporary suspension that sparked widespread concern among researchers and patient advocates. The TrialNet International Trial to Delay the Onset of Type 1 Diabetes (TOD), a crucial study aiming to identify preventative strategies for the autoimmune disease, had itS funding unexpectedly halted in late 2017, but was fully reinstated within months.The abrupt pause and subsequent revival of the TOD study underscored the precarious nature of federally funded research and highlighted the potential impact of political decisions on critical public health initiatives. Type 1 diabetes,an autoimmune condition affecting millions globally,requires lifelong insulin therapy and carries meaningful health risks. The TrialNet study offered a beacon of hope for delaying or even preventing the disease’s onset, and the initial funding freeze threatened to derail years of progress.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), initially suspended the funding as part of a broader review of grant awards nearing the end of their funding cycle. At the time, the NIH stated the pause was not a reflection of the study’s scientific merit, but rather a procedural step. However,the decision triggered immediate backlash from the scientific community,including TrialNet investigators and organizations like the JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).”We were deeply concerned when we learned about the funding suspension,” said Aaron Kowalski, President and CEO of JDRF, in a statement released in January 2018. “TrialNet is one of the most promising research efforts in type 1 diabetes, and any disruption to this work could have a devastating impact on the search for a cure.”
Following advocacy from JDRF, TrialNet researchers, and members of Congress, the Trump administration reversed course. In February 2018, NIH Director Francis Collins informed trialnet investigators that funding would be restored, allowing the study to continue enrolling participants and analyzing data. the restored funding ensured the continuation of the trial, which involves screening family members of individuals with type 1 diabetes for autoantibodies indicative of the disease’s progress and testing preventative interventions.
The TOD study, initiated in 2008, has enrolled over 200 participants across multiple sites in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions, including the use of teplizumab, an immunotherapy drug, in delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals. Results from the study have shown promising signs, with teplizumab demonstrating a statistically significant delay in the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in some participants.
The restoration of funding for the TrialNet study served as a reminder of the importance of consistent support for medical research and the potential consequences of disruptions to long-term scientific endeavors.The ongoing research continues to offer hope for improved treatments and, ultimately, prevention of type 1 diabetes.
