Immune Tolerance Network

Jane Hoyt Buckner, MD (Contact) Mark S. Anderson, MD NIDDK Supplemental Funding Request 5UM1AI109565-12 Project Summary / Abstract The mission of the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) is to advance the clinical applicaƟon of immune tolerance by conducƟng high-quality clinical trials of emerging therapeuƟcs based on testable mechanisƟc hypotheses. The ITN is designed to invesƟgate a range of diseases across the immunologic spectrum through the integraƟon of innovaƟve clinical studies and cuƫng- edge immunologic analyses. Since its incepƟon, one of the areas of interest of the ITN has been Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) with a focus to successfully enhance the development of tolerance therapies. We uƟlize a collaboraƟve structure involving hundreds of invesƟgators, advisors, and clinical sites and mechanisƟc laboratories working in tandem with a core group of ITN staff, operaƟng a program that is both scienƟfically and financially efficient. Our intenƟon is to evolve our current strategies into the next generaƟon of planned trials, as well as operate a flexible, future-focused organizaƟon, poised to lead and adopt innovaƟons. Our approach—evaluaƟng novel tolerance therapeuƟcs in clinical seƫngs while simultaneously invesƟgaƟng the geneƟc and immunologic mechanisms of disease and their response to therapy—provides a robust framework for generaƟng cross-disease and cross-disciplinary insights. This strategy is aimed at acceleraƟng the development of new therapeuƟc opƟons for major diseases. With lead insƟtuƟonal commitment from the Benaroya Research InsƟtute and the University of California San Francisco, and parƟcipaƟon of more than 20 other major insƟtuƟons represented in leadership and major advisory roles, the ITN strives to conƟnue to successfully pioneer high impact clinical trials and mechanisƟc studies in T1D.