The aim of this project was to identify the genes that underlie Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), a complex autoimmune disease. Its incidence has increased dramatically in Canada in the past 50 years, but the reasons for this rise are still unclear, largely because the disease etiology is unknown.

The investigators generated gene expression profiles from two rodent models exhibiting features of T1D and identified 176 rodent candidate genes modulating diabetes risk. These were then used as a reference to screen for genetic variants involved in the human disease. The group collected families from regions in North America for their genetic screens. Each cohort underwent genetic association studies using a subset of genes identified in the rodent studies.

Screens of different cohorts revealed candidate loci that were common among two groups. A larger genetic screen encompassing candidate genes using all three cohorts is currently underway. This project led to a patent submission for three candidate diabetes genes.