Research Summary
Diabetes affects 10% of the global population. It predisposes individuals to increased risks of severe infections, vaccine failure, autoimmune diseases and cancer because it can disrupt the cellular metabolic pathways that are critical to immune function. Dr. Sue Tsai, Canada Research Chair in Immune-Metabolic Interface in Health and Disease, is unravelling the complex mechanisms that drive type 1 and type 2 diabetes and related illnesses.
She and her research team are focusing on how immune cells metabolize nutrients to sustain their function and how disruptions in metabolic balance—such as those seen in diabetes and cancer—negatively affect immunity. They are also investigating the reciprocal relationship between immunity and autoimmune diseases. Tsai’s findings will be crucial for designing vaccines and developing cancer immunotherapies that can better address the specific needs of individuals with diabetes.