Did any of you hear about this?


"The approach used by EpiVax is called Antigen-Specific Adaptive Tolerance Induction (ASATI) to specifically target and reduce undesirable immune responses. EpiVax used its proprietary computer algorithms to identify the molecules that induce ASATI. Because ASATI uses the body's own natural responses, this intervention has the potential to be far safer than immunosuppressive drugs that are now being studied. The promising treatment, called Epi-13, may have application to a broad range of auto-immune disorders.


EpiVax is pioneering the use of immunoinformatics for making safer, more effective human therapeutics. This approach also offers hope for individualizing therapies, also known as immuno-pharmacogenomics.


The EpiVax research program will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. David Scott of the University of Maryland and with Robert Smith of the Hallett Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Rhode Island Hospital. According to Dr. Smith, an expert in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes, This research deals with a critically important clinical problem and the approach EpiVax is taking in developing new diabetes therapies holds great promise."

Interesting. JDRF has given this company $351,000 for one year to provide something called proof of principle. I had to look that one up. It's a demonstration of the commercial potential of a discovery or invention.


I don't understand the ins and outs of these treatments. I know that many of them never see the light of day, failing in one way or another. I've learned not to get my hopes up. This, though, sounds interesting. I know a lot of people put a lot of stock in Dr. Faustman and her study, but in my opinion, the more studies and experiments, the better. It certainly can't hurt and if it finds a cure for another auto-immune disease but not diabetes, I'll still be thrilled. It's one less auto-immune disease out there, one step closer to a cure for diabetes.

Even though I live my life by the "I don't care if it's half-empty or half-full, I'm just glad there's a glass," principle, I do still, in the depths of my curmudgeonly little heart, hope for a cure. I just don't talk about it much. It doesn't do to pin ones heart to ones sleeve. It's far too easily bruised that way.