Research into the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes spans both basic and clinical research, with major emphasis on genetic animal models of type 1 diabetes and on type 1 diabetes of humans. The Barbara Davis Center's faculty has pioneered islet biochemistry, immunobiology of islet beta cell transplantation, identification of individuals at risk for developing type 1 diabetes and trials for the prevention of diabetes and its complications. Research faculty at the Barbara Davis Center were the first to clone T-cells causing type 1 diabetes. With the screening of more than 20,000 newborns for genetic risk of type 1 diabetes at birth, the first study addressing the development of autoimmunity in children from the general population is now underway in collaboration with the Department of Preventive Medicine. A major interest in islet development and molecular biology is the creation of islets from stem cells.