Diabetes Virus Detection Project, Intervention With GAD-alum

The aetiology of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Both genetic and environmental factors seem to be important for the destruction of insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. Increasing indirect evidences exist that picornaviruses may either directly or indirectly through autoimmune processes destroy beta cells. New sensitive assays have been developed to detect these viruses and to study the immunological processes, especially T-cell function. Microsurgical technology has been refined, now making pancreatic biopsies a safe procedure. This study focuses on advanced in depth studies of immunology and virology in pancreatic tissue and small intestine at an early stage of disease.