Establishing Screening Programs for Early-Stage Type 1 Diabetes Across Europe
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, leading to lifelong dependence on insulin therapy. The autoimmune process that ultimately results in the onset of the disease often begins early in life yet is typically detected only when symptoms appear. When diagnosis and treatment are delayed, this can escalate into a life-threatening medical emergency. A simple blood test can detect type 1 diabetes in its early stages, by identifying islet autoantibodies, thereby revealing the autoimmune activity associated with type 1 diabetes long before symptoms develop. Early detection offers a critical opportunity for monitoring, timely intervention, and improved patient outcomes.
In 2023, EDENT1FI was launched, with the aim of bringing type 1 diabetes screening and monitoring to Europe. Building on the foundation and success of the Fr1da study which pioneered early-stage type 1 diabetes screening in Bavaria, Germany, EDENT1FI has established screening programs in Czechia, Poland, and Portugal and has strengthened existing initiatives in Germany, Italy, the UK, Denmark and Sweden.
“Although it was initially uncertain whether the screening principles developed in Germany through the Fr1da study could be successfully applied in regions with entirely different healthcare systems, these programs have already proven highly successful. EDENT1FI’s success demonstrates that early-stage type 1 diabetes screening can be effectively implemented throughout Europe,” says Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, Co-Lead Coordinator of EDENT1FI, Work Package 1 (Screening) Lead, Investigator for Fr1da and Director of the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Munich and Chair of Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes at the TUM University Hospital.
Screening settings varied across countries, with programs conducted in primary care, hospitals, schools, and homes. Despite these differences, EDENT1FI successfully harmonized islet autoantibody detection and standardized data collection and processing across countries. The initiative also introduced central laboratories and robust quality control processes throughout Europe, enabling the screening of more than 100,000 children and adolescents at a rate of approximately 6,500 participants per month.
“The expansion of screening programs to other European countries will protect more children against serious metabolic derailments associated with later diagnoses of diabetes,” says Prof. Peter Achenbach, Deputy Director of the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Munich, Investigator for Fr1da and EDENT1FI in Germany.
Supporting Children and Adolescents with Early-Stage Type 1 Diabetes
Participation in the EDENT1FI screening program requires only a few drops of blood. Families receive counseling and ongoing support throughout the process. Children and adolescents identified with early-stage type 1 diabetes are closely monitored and informed about opportunities for early intervention. By equipping families with knowledge and resources, EDENT1FI aims to reduce the burden of an unexpected onset of clinical diabetes and empower them to manage life with type 1 diabetes effectively. EDENT1FI’s goal is to screen 220,000 children and adolescents from the general population across Europe to identify those with presymptomatic type 1 diabetes.
"Reaching 100,000 screened children is a major step for early-stage diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. With recently approved and future disease modifying therapies, diagnosing children earlier becomes even more meaningful. This milestone shows how collaboration is reshaping the future of type 1 diabetes care," explains Chantal Mathieu, Lead Coordinator of EDENT1FI and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven.
New Therapy Highlights Importance of Early Detection
In January 2026, the immunomodulatory drug teplizumab was approved in Europe for use in children aged eight years and older with presymptomatic type 1 diabetes (Stage 2). This approval underscores the importance of early detection programs like EDENT1FI. Through early detection, families and clinicians can consider interventions such as teplizumab to delay the onset of the disease. Additional therapies that may prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes are currently being studied in clinical trials.
About EDENT1FI
EDENT1FI is a collaborative initiative involving 27 partners from academia, industry, and charitable organizations across 13 European countries. The project is funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) through Horizon Europe, with additional support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Breakthrough T1D, and other stakeholders. Launched in 2023, EDENT1FI focuses on detecting type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents before clinical symptoms appear, with the goal of improving early intervention, refining risk stratification, and enabling the development of innovative therapies.
Scientific contact:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler
Director of the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health
Phone: +49 89 3187 2896
E-Mail: anettegabriele.ziegler@helmholtz-munich.de
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Achenbach
Deputy Director, Lead Scientist Research Area: Study Center for Childhood Diabetes
Phone: +49 89 3187 4595
E-Mail: peter.achenbach@helmholtz-munich.de
Helmholtz Munich is a top biomedical research center. Its mission is to develop pioneering solutions for a healthier society in a rapidly changing world. Interdisciplinary research teams focus on environmental diseases, in particular the treatment and prevention of diabetes, obesity, allergies and chronic lung diseases. www.helmholtz-munich.de/en
The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is a national association that brings together experts in the field of diabetes research and combines basic research, translational research, epidemiology and clinical applications. The aim is to develop novel strategies for personalized prevention and treatment of diabetes. Members are Helmholtz Munich – German Research Center for Environmental Health, the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf, the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbrücke, the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of Helmholtz Munich at the University Medical Center Carl Gustav Carus of the TU Dresden and the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of Helmholtz Munich at the Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen together with associated partners at the Universities in Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck and Munich. www.dzd-ev.de/en
