Scientists researching type 1 diabetes have had a major breakthrough after successfully reversing the condition in mice.

They hope their research could one day lead to reversing the condition in people.

The University of Cincinnati scientists found that using an antibody called UT18 to stimulate a molecule called TLR4 prevented T-cells from attacking beta cells.

This approach reversed type 1 diabetes in a large percentage of non-obese mice that had just developed the disease. The findings were recently presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in San Francisco.

While the research is yet to be peer-reviewed and is preliminary, it is exciting news for people with type 1 diabetes.

Study leader Dr William Ridgway said the key to reversing type 1 diabetes in mice was to catch the disease when it first developed. He noted that the window of opportunity for treatment would be longer in humans, but would still be relatively brief.

While animal research findings don’t often translate in human trials this approach is different from other attempts to combat type 1 diabetes in that it doesn’t directly target T-cells, according to Dr Ridgway.

He said the therapy holds promise because one drug has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and others are under development.