Currently, early-stage type 1 diabetes is diagnosed through the presence of autoantibodies, which signal immune damage. However, a research team led by Associate Professor Stuart Mannering at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research has developed a new test—BASTA—that can detect the activity of the T cells responsible for that damage. Unlike traditional methods, this test reveals the immune activity driving type 1 diabetes, not just the aftermath.

BASTA requires only a small blood sample, making it suitable for children, and is especially valuable in clinical trials to assess how well treatments suppress immune activity. This innovative test offers a major step forward in diagnosing and treating type 1 diabetes earlier, with the ultimate goal of delaying or even preventing it altogether.