University of Manitoba researcher Dr. Nayara Rampazzo Morelli is pioneering new treatments that could delay the onset of Type 1 Diabetes.
Dr. Nayara Rampazzo Morelli, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of Physiology and Pathophysiology in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, has been named a recipient of the University of Manitoba Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow Award in Health Sciences. The award recognizes her outstanding contributions to health sciences and her innovative research under the supervision of Dr. Peter Thompson, focused on delaying the progression and clinical onset of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells, leading to severe insulin deficiency. While T1D is most frequently diagnosed in children and teens, it can develop at any age. In Manitoba alone, an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 individuals live with the disease—a number that continues to grow each year.
While immune T cells are widely recognized as the primary drivers of beta cell destruction, recent research reveals another critical factor: the accumulation of stress within beta cells, which can fast-track the onset of T1D.
Interestingly, not all stressed beta cells are destroyed in the immune attack. A small population survives by undergoing distinct molecular changes. Using targeted drugs to address these cellular changes in animal models has successfully slowed the development of T1D. However, translating these findings from animal models to human therapies remains a key challenge in the field.
Dr. Morelli’s research directly bridges this crucial gap. By investigating a specific drug target in stressed human beta cells, her project seeks to determine whether a similar therapeutic approach can be safely and effectively applied to humans—a vital step required to pave the way for future clinical trials.
Her research fellowship is supported by the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN-R2FIC) CREATE program through Breakthrough T1D Canada. Beyond the laboratory, she is also an active advocate and speaker within the diabetes research community. In November 2025, she was invited as a guest speaker at the Breakthrough T1D Cocktails for a Cure Gala in Winnipeg.
Through her research work at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Morelli’s bringing hope closer to reality for thousands of Manitobans and millions worldwide living with Type 1 Diabetes.
For nearly 150 years, UM has transformed lives through groundbreaking research and homegrown innovation. We push the boundaries of knowledge and do the hard work here in Manitoba to move our community and the world forward. With a spirit of determination and discovery, we are shaping a better future for our province and beyond.
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