University of Bristol Researchers Develop Promising Gene Therapy to Protect Type 1 Diabetes Patients from Kidney Disease

University of Bristol Researchers Develop Promising Gene Therapy to Protect Type 1 Diabetes Patients from Kidney Disease

(IN BRIEF) Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a promising new gene therapy that could help prevent diabetic kidney disease in people with type 1 diabetes. The treatment uses a harmless virus to deliver the VEGF-C protein directly into kidney cells, protecting the glomerulus — the kidney’s filtering unit — and reducing a key marker of kidney damage by 64%. Supported by Diabetes UK, the study offers a groundbreaking approach that targets the root cause of kidney disease rather than just its symptoms. If further trials confirm these results, this method could become the first gene-based therapy to prevent kidney failure in diabetes patients.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 14-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A pioneering study from the University of Bristol has revealed a potential breakthrough in preventing diabetic kidney disease — one of the most common and serious complications of type 1 diabetes. The new gene therapy approach, which targets the root cause of kidney damage, demonstrated a 64% reduction in a key indicator of kidney disease, offering hope for the millions at risk.

The study, published in Molecular Therapy and part-funded by Diabetes UK, was led by Dr Rebecca Foster, Associate Professor of Microvascular Medicine at Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences, with Dr Aldara Martin Alonso as first author. The research focused on delivering a protein known as VEGF-C directly into kidney cells to protect the glomerulus — the kidney’s microscopic filter responsible for cleaning the blood.

Current treatments can only slow the progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes and do not directly address the damage to these vital filters. Using a harmless virus as a delivery mechanism, the Bristol researchers introduced VEGF-C into the kidney cells of diabetic mice. The treatment not only improved kidney function but also significantly reduced the presence of albumin in urine — a critical marker of kidney damage — by 64%. This reduction is more than double the improvement threshold recommended by the American Diabetes Association to slow chronic kidney disease.

Dr Foster emphasized the urgency of new therapies, stating: “There are currently no drugs that specifically protect people with type 1 diabetes from kidney disease, despite their higher risk. Our goal was to explore whether gene therapy could offer a targeted, long-term solution.”

Dr Faye Riley, Research Communications Lead at Diabetes UK, highlighted the significance of the findings: “Kidney disease can progress silently over many years, often with devastating consequences. This early-stage research is exciting because it targets the root cause and could lead to a completely new way of protecting the kidneys in people with diabetes.”

The findings mark the first time this gene therapy approach has been tested in pre-clinical models, representing a potential step toward developing long-term treatment options for those at risk of diabetic kidney complications.

The research paper, titled Podocyte-directed VEGFC gene therapy prevents increased glomerular permeability and glycocalyx damage in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, is available open access in Molecular Therapy.

Paper

‘Podocyte-directed VEGFC gene therapy prevents increased glomerular permeability and glycocalyx damage in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes‘ by B Foster et al. in Molecular Therapy [open access]

Further information

About type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that affects around 400,000 people in the UK. The condition occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, meaning they produce very little, or no insulin.

About Diabetes UK
1.   Diabetes UK’s aim is creating a world where diabetes can do no harm. Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, affecting more people than any other serious health condition in the UK – more than dementia and cancer combined. There is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes. With the right treatment, knowledge and support people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life. For more information about diabetes and the charity’s work, visit www.diabetes.org.uk

2.   Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. Without the support to manage it well, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

3.   People living with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 8 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but a family history of type 1 increases the risk of developing it. Type 1 diabetes is not currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly. Type 1 diabetes is treated by multiple daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.

4.   People living with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance). Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2. They might get type 2 diabetes because family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get type 2 diabetes if they are living with obesity or overweight. People from the most deprived areas are also more at risk of developing type 2. It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it. However, we are seeing more young people, including children, developing it. Type 2 diabetes can be treated by getting support to manage your weight, eating a healthy diet and increasing physical activity. In addition, medications including tablets, insulin and non-insulin injectables are usually required.

5.   About 2 per cent of people live with other types of diabetes. Other types include 11 different forms of monogenic diabetes, gestational diabetes, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and diabetes caused by rare syndromes. Certain medication such as steroids and antipsychotics, surgery or hormonal imbalances could also lead to other types of diabetes.

Media contact:
Email: press-office@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)117 428 2489

SOURCE: University of Bristol