Wayne State project advances efforts toward automated diabetes care

Despite advances in insulin therapy and automated delivery systems, people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) still face a daily struggle: manually dosing insulin before meals. Current insulin options - rapid-acting or ultra-rapid analogs - are too slow to match the body's natural insulin response, making full automation elusive.

A new research project at Wayne State University, supported by a $300,000 grant from Breakthrough T1D International, aims to change that. Dr. Zhiqiang Cao, professor of chemical engineering and materials science, is developing a next-generation ultra-rapid insulin designed to dramatically accelerate insulin action and remove the need for user input at mealtime.

Our goal is to create an insulin that acts fast enough to truly mimic the human pancreas. When combined with advanced insulin delivery algorithms, this could make fully automated systems a reality and help patients manage their condition with fewer interruptions to daily life."

Dr. Zhiqiang Cao, professor of chemical engineering and materials science, Wayne State University

By addressing the limitations of current insulin analogs in terms of speed, onset and duration, the project has the potential to significantly improve glycemic control and reduce the burden of disease management for people with T1D.

Since joining Wayne State in 2013, Cao has received more than $6 million in external funding for diabetes-related research, including multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and Breakthrough T1D.

Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State, praised the project's potential and the university's role in advancing human health through translational research.

"Type 1 diabetes affects millions of individuals and families, often beginning in childhood," said Obasi. "Dr. Cao's research is critical in helping to move us closer to an improved treatment that will bring new hope to those living with the disease. This funding underscores the importance of sustained investment in research to impact lives now and in the future."

Dr. Ali Abolmaali, dean of the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering, said Cao's work exemplifies the college's commitment to solving real-world health challenges.

"This project is a testament to how engineering research can directly improve lives," said Abolmaali. "We're proud to support faculty like Dr. Cao, whose work bridges science, medicine and technology to serve the public good."

Breakthrough T1D International is a leading global funder of T1D research, supporting projects that accelerate the development of treatments and technologies to improve the lives of people affected by the disease.