Innovative Cellular and Tolerogenic Therapies in Type 1 Diabetes

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2 minutes

2025 PRESENTER PROFILES

Innovative Cellular and Tolerogenic Therapies in Type 1 Diabetes

Sunday, June 22, at 1:30 p.m. CT

Room W196 BC • McCormick Place Convention Center

Induction of T-Cell Exhaustion for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Paolo Serafini, PhD
Paolo Serafini, PhD

Paolo Serafini, PhD

Associate Professor,

University of Miami

What is your presentation about?
T cell exhaustion is a natural mechanism that helps maintain immune homeostasis, primarily through the interaction of PD-1 on T cells with its ligand PD-L1. While blocking this tolerogenic pathway has led to major breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy, the opposite approach—enhancing exhaustion—could have a transformative impact in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. In my presentation, I will discuss the use of bifunctional RNA therapeutics designed to specifically target mouse and human beta cells in vivo, driving localized PD-L1 expression. This strategy should promote exhaustion selectively in diabetogenic T cells, while sparing T cells with other specificities, thereby preserving overall immune function.

How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
I hope that through this presentation, the discussion, and follow-up interactions, we can better understand what is required to effectively induce exhaustion in diabetogenic T cells in vivo. Beyond promoting immune tolerance, I’m introducing a new class of therapeutics that enables temporally controlled, targeted biological modifications of beta cells with minimal off-target effects. In addition to blocking autoimmunity, we are also advancing programs aimed at enhancing human beta cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. This platform of targeted RNA-based therapeutics can be adapted by other groups to address various beta cell needs, ultimately contributing to the broader development of precision therapies for type 1 diabetes.

How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
I am an immunologist specializing in the study of tolerogenic mechanisms in both cancer and type 1 diabetes. These two fields represent mirror images of immune dysfunction: in cancer, we aim to restore immune activity, while in autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, we work to suppress it. My involvement in diabetes research developed from this parallel; by understanding how immune tolerance is disrupted or maintained in cancer, we can apply those insights to autoimmunity, and vice versa. This cross-disciplinary perspective not only deepens our understanding of immune regulation but, when combined with advances in targeted nanotechnology, will help us develop safer and more effective therapies for both diseases.

Extend your learning on the latest advances in diabetes research, prevention, and care after the 85th Scientific Sessions conclude. From June 25–August 25, registered participants will have on-demand access to presentations recorded in Chicago via the meeting website.