Diabets Research Institute (HSR-DRI)
DIRECTOR: Luca Guidotti
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Emanuele Bosi

Over the last 3 decades, type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been one of the most relevant single areas of interest for patient care and research at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute. With the objective of reinforcing and expanding basic and clinical research on T1D, in late 2007 a specialized and independent research Institute - denominated Diabetes Research Institute (HSR-DRI) - was launched at San Raffaele. HSR-DRI is part of the International DRI federation (DRI-NET), which includes 12 other DRI’s around the world. HSR-DRI is composed of six Units of Basic Research and five Groups of Clinical Research.

The overall objective of HSR-DRI is to prevent and cure T1D. To achieve this objective, two specific programs are pursued, both of which take advantage of patients and animal models:

1. Prediction and prevention of T1D: aims at defining pathogenetic mechanisms of induction and perpetuation of autoimmunity and developing strategies for halting/reverting the progression to T1D.
2. Beta cell replacement and cell therapy in T1D: aims at developing novel immune tolerance-inducing, immunosuppression-lightening and islet-regeneration therapies to prolong the survival of native and/or transplanted beta cells.