Front face of the Childrens Hospital

University of Pittsburgh at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Logo

4401 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
United States

University of Pittsburgh is one of eighteen type 1 diabetes TrialNet International Clinical Centers at the forefront of type 1 diabetes research. Led by Ingrid Libman, MD, PhD, the TrialNet team at University of Pittsburgh is dedicated to preventing type 1 diabetes and stopping disease progression by preserving insulin production before and after diagnosis. Our center is located at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Our Team

Portrait photo

Ingrid Libman, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Director of Diabetes Program

Ingrid Libman is the director of the diabetes program at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh. Her scientific interests focus on the etiology, prevention and treatment of diabetes in childhood, with particular emphasis on the effect of obesity and insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). 

Portrait photo

Dorothy Becker, MBBCh

Professor of Pediatrics, Diabetes Research Director

Dorothy J. Becker has been internationally recognized for her work in the treatment and prevention of diabetes in children. Dr. Becker is professor of pediatrics at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Becker’s clinical and research focus is diabetes and the application of new therapies in this area. Among her many achievements, Dr. Becker has received the McEllroy Award from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Alumni Association, the Founder’s Award from the Midwest Society of Pediatric Research and the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diabetes in Youth from the American Diabetes Association. She also is a member of the western Pennsylvania board of directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Association and has been invited to lecture audiences around the world.

Portrait photo

Kelli DeLallo, RN, BSN

Study Coordinator
Portrait photo

Mary Beth Klein, RN, BSN

Study Coordinator
Carly

Carly Shelleby

Research Assistant
Portrait photo

Katie McDowell

Lab Manager

 

Regional Affiliates

Childrens National Medical Center
111 Michigan Ave., NW Washington, 20010 United States
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
9500 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, 44195 United States
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
34th St & Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, 19104 United States
Case Western Reserve University
11100 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, 44106 United States
University of Virginia Health System
1204 W. Main St Charlottesville, 22903 United States
Penn State University
16 North Henderson University Park, 16802 United States

Research Studies

The following studies are actively recruiting participants. Please click on the study title to learn more. For those interested in participation, contact us for more information.  

Risk Screening
If you have a relative with T1D, you may be eligible for risk screening that can detect the early stages of T1D years before symptoms appear.
Monitoring
Depending on your risk screening results, you may be eligible for monitoring. We’ll monitor you for disease progression and let you know if you become eligible for a study.
Prevention Study
TrialNet is testing a low dose of the immunotherapy drug anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to see if it can delay or prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D) in people ages 6 to 34 who have a 50% risk of clinical diagnosis (Stage 3) within 2 years. Risk is defined by having two or more autoantibodies and abnormal blood sugar (Stage 2), plus at least one high-risk marker (based on test results). In an earlier TrialNet study for people newly diagnosed with T1D, low-dose ATG preserved insulin production and improved blood sugar control for 2 years.
Long Term
If you are diagnosed with T1D while participating in one of our prevention studies, we’re still here for you. You can continue to receive personal monitoring while helping us learn more.
Newly Diagnosed
TrialNet researchers are testing two different treatments – abrocitinib and ritlecitinib – to see if either or both can preserve insulin production in people (ages 12-35) newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (Stage 3 T1D). Abrocitinib and ritlecitinib are in a new class of autoimmune treatments called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
Newly Diagnosed
TrialNet is testing rituximab-pvvr and abatacept in people (ages 8-45) who were newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to learn if using both treatments, one after the other, maintains the body’s ability to make insulin. By adding abatacept after rituximab-pvvr, researchers predict more people will experience prolonged beta cell function during and possibly after treatment.