Study status

The study is open for expressions of interest.

To help us manage high levels of interest, we are asking families to register by emailing elsa@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

We will send a personalised consent link to each family once we reach their place in the queue.

Background

We are recruiting 70,000 children and young adults aged 2-17 from across the UK to explore the feasibility and benefits of screening for type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious lifelong condition. Around the world, research studies are screening children and young adults for type 1 diabetes, to find children and young adults at risk before they become unwell.

ELSA is the largest type 1 diabetes screening programme for children and young adults in the UK.

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ELSA study animation for Parents & Carers

The ELSA study is testing a type one diabetes screening program for children and young adults.

We want to find out whether a simple blood test can tell us whether your child is likely to develop type 1 diabetes in the future.

This information will allow us to start treatment sooner.

Diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors, and is less common in children.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body's own immune system destroying the pancreas, an organ in the body that produces insulin.

Insulin is a natural hormone needed by your body to convert glucose into the energy needed for everyday life.

Children who develop type 1 diabetes can become extremely unwell and need to take insulin straight away and continue for the rest of their lives.

If diabetes is not managed properly, it can lead to increased health risks.

Around the world research studies are identifying children at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

There are many advantages to knowing if your child is at risk. These include identifying type 1 diabetes earlier so that children can be started on treatment sooner and do not get too unwell.

The ELSA 2 study is screening children aged 2-17 years for type 1 diabetes.

Taking part involves a simple finger prick test.

You can choose to do the test at home, at school, at your doctors or in community centres near you.

If the test is negative, your child will not need any more tests in the ELSA Study.

If your child’s test is positive, you will need to come into the hospital at a convenient time to have some more tests, including some more blood tests.

If the test is positive, your child will be invited to come to the hospital to have some more tests to confirm if your child is at high risk.

We understand it may be distressing for the family to find out that your child is at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

The ELSA study team are here to support families with this information.

Your family will be invited to an education session so we can explain what this risk means for your child's future and what the available options are.

For example, you can choose to enter your child into a monitoring program so we can do more regular checkups, and we'll let you know about studies that may help delay the start of type 1 diabetes.

Every family who takes part in the ELSA Study will be helping us to understand more about type 1 diabetes.

If you would like to take part in the ELSA Study or find out more information, please visit our website or contact the ELSA Study team.

Thank you.