Call to action for Aim 2 - Pilot the Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes in First-Degree Relatives

Working Together for a Consistent Approach to

Early-stage Type 1 Diabetes Care

Be Part of Something Groundbreaking: Pilot the Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes in First-Degree Relatives

ABCD, BSPED, CYP Diabetes Network & PCDOS are collaborating with Sanofi through a Collaborative Working Project to pilot the implementation of early detection screening for first-degree relatives in families of diagnosed T1D patients.  We are seeking up to 10 pioneering adult/paediatric centres across the UK to participate in this transformative pilot programme.

WHY THIS MATTERS

First-degree relatives face up to 15 times higher risk of developing T1D1. By enabling early detection and intervention before symptomatic presentation, your centre will help shape the future of UK T1D screening and lead the way in proactive early-stage type 1 diabetes care.

WHAT THE PILOT INVOLVES

Test the delivery of a T1D screening programme in a high-risk population and help us understand how screening can be effectively implemented nationwide with funding support from Sanofi to deliver the early detection programme.

YOUR ROLE AS A PILOT SITE

1.      Identify index patients from your caseload and ask them to invite their first-degree relative family members if they would like to opt in for autoantibody (Aab) testing (FDR’s up to the age of 45 years 2)

2.      Record key metrics: number of index patients contacted, FDR’s (up to the age of 45 years2) referred per index patient, tests carried out, and positive/negative Aab results

3.      Submit aggregated data to the ABCD project steering group (no patient-identifiable data will be shared)

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING NHS ORGANISATIONS & SANOFI SUPPORT

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

Participating centres will benefit from early access to emerging screening protocols, expert steering group support, networking opportunities with leading UK diabetes centres, and recognition as pioneers shaping the future of proactive early-stage T1D care.

READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Register Your Interest Today click to register here

IMPORTANT DATES: Closing date for registrations: 30th June 2026

FURTHER QUESTIONS? Contact us directly: lee.blakeney@sanofi.com

Join us in this exciting development in autoimmune type 1 diabetes care. Together, we can transform early detection and intervention for families at risk.

Prof. Parth Narendran and Prof. Hermione Price - Association of British Clinical Diabetologists  

Prof Colin Dayan - The UKT1D-Research Consortium  

Dr Rachel Besser and Dr Tabitha Randell - British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes  

Dr Fiona Campbell - Children and Young People's Diabetes Network  

Prof. Naresh Kanumilli - Primary Care Diabetes and Obesity Society

Extended details:

Collaborative working requires a pooling of resources between Sanofi and the NHS. The cost of projects and resources is calculated by the amount of Direct and Indirect funding required to deliver the project objectives. 

Direct funding is an actual monetary contribution each organisation invests in the project.EG £10,000 each.

Indirect funding is not a cash sum; it is calculated using the equivalent transfer of value of staff time and resources used to deliver the project. Collaborative working projects may use a mixture of Direct and Indirect funding. 

Sanofi’s contribution to this project will be subject to contract. Funding may vary depending on each centres case load and will cover the following:

Direct funding –

Cash funding to cover Consultant and nurse time to identify FDR’s based on the number of each centres index patient case load.

Cash funding to cover Consultant/nurse clinic time to review and follow up FDR’s who choose to have an AAB test.

Indirect funding – Sanofi will appoint project managers to manage the project and support the NHS stakeholders to deliver the project objectives.

Participating Centres contribution to the project: 

Direct funding – Sanofi will not fund AAB tests. Participating centres will be required to absorb the cost of all AAB tests and all confirmatory diagnosis tests required, as per the current cost of each AAB/confirmatory test to the NHS.

Indirect funding: Consultants, nurses and contract managers in each participating centre may need to commit additional time and resource to setting up the project in each centre, which is not reimbursed by the direct funding for consultant/nurse clinic time by Sanofi.

Each participating centre will be required to contract with Sanofi to receive the funding. The amount of funding each centre will receive from Sanofi and will need to provide itself, to implement the project, will be calculated based on the individual trusts index patient case load.

References

1.      Besser REJ, Bell KJ, Couper JJ, et al. Pediatr Diabetes.2022;23 (8):1175-1187

2. Mahon, J.L., et al, the TrialNet Natural History Committee and Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Study Group (2009), The TrialNet Natural History Study of the Development of Type 1 Diabetes: objectives, design, and initial results. Pediatric Diabetes, 10: 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-5448.2008.00464.x