Vale Professor Helen Thomas, type 1 diabetes research pioneer
It is with heavy hearts that JDRF Australia and Breakthrough T1D farewell Professor Helen Thomas following her recent passing. Professor Thomas was a great in the world of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and collaborator on many of T1D research projects across Australia. She was a recognised international leader who made significant advancements in the field of immunology and paved the way towards better therapies for people living with T1D.
An immunologist who dedicated much of her 30-year career to preventing pancreatic beta cell destruction in diabetes, Professor Thomas’ particular focus was on the prevention of T1D. This led to her becoming the head of the Islet Biology Lab at St Vincents’s Institute of Medical Research. She was also a great collaborator both nationally and internationally and was especially dedicated to mentoring the next generation of T1D researchers.
Professor Thomas’s work was groundbreaking, and she was admired for her skills in all parts of the research translation pipeline, from undertaking basic research, to driving clinical trials, and commercialisation of technology. She had been funded by our organisation over a 23-year span, with her studies consistently moving us closer to cures for T1D.
Most recently, she co-lead the BANDIT study, showing baricitinib—a JAK inhibitor— As a result of this landmark study and Helen’s success, Breakthrough T1D and JDRF Australia are continuing to explore the use of this drug in individuals newly diagnosed with the disease and in other stages of T1D.
She was particularly revered in Australia, where she played an integral role in the JDRF-funded Australasian Type 1 Diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative (ATIC), a clinical trial network which seeks to accelerate the development of immunotherapy treatments for those with T1D. She also she served as a key member of the Australian Islet Transplant Consortium and the JDRF Australia Genomics Consortium.
Further, her reputation and expertise led to strong collaborations with industry to test immune suppressive drugs, in particular JAK inhibitors, in clinical trials for T1D. She also successfully founded Effica biolabs, a platform for pre-clinical testing of new T1D therapies, which gained significant engagement from biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
Reflecting on the impact of Professor Thomas on T1D research, JDRF Australia Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Dorota Pawlak, said:
Professor Helen Thomas was a phenomenal force in type 1 diabetes research and remained dedicated to driving breakthroughs for the community until the end of her life. The inroads she has made across her career are extensive, she has been a fantastic research partner, advisor, and friend to JDRF over many years. This is a huge loss for our organisation and for the type 1 diabetes research community. Helen’s brilliant mind, kindness, and wisdom will be sorely missed.
-Dr Dorota Pawlak
Breakthrough T1D Chief Scientific Officer Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., added:
The loss of Helen Thomas to the T1D community is immense. She undoubtedly helped the world better understand the onset and development of T1D. And, lately, she was instrumental in uncovering new pathways potentially preventing it from progressing. She wore many hats at our organization, from reviewer to researcher to mentor to friend and ally. She will be deeply missed.
-Dr Sanjoy Dutta
Our thoughts are with her friends and family.
You can read more about Professor Thomas’ research at SVI’s website.
