Alexei Savinov The 13th International Congress of the Immunology of Diabetes Society 2013

Alexei Savinov

For more than two decades, my research program has focused on understanding the mechanisms that drive the initiation and progression of diabetogenic autoimmune responses, and on modeling these processes using in vitro, in situ, and in vivo systems. My work has concentrated on defining the molecular and cellular events that regulate the activation, migration, and cytotoxic function of diabetogenic, self reactive effector T lymphocytes responsible for pancreatic islet destruction. This research has contributed to a sustained body of work in immunology and cell biology, particularly related to immune mechanisms underlying T1D development. More recently, my studies have emphasized strategies to restore immune tolerance in T1D, which is central to the pathogenesis of the disease. One key focus has been the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs), as both functional and numerical Tregs impairments have been documented in individuals with T1D. To address these deficiencies, our group is developing and evaluating novel cellular therapies based on engineered autologous Tregs expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) designed to recognize pancreatic beta cells. Current efforts are aimed at generating and rigorously testing these CAR Tregs for their capacity to suppress autoimmune responses and preserve islet integrity. Longer term, we aim to move CAR-Tregs therapy toward clinical trials.