RESEARCHERS at the Westmead Millennium Institute are hoping to eliminate type 1 diabetes by transplanting insulin-producing cells into the body, replacing the original cells that have been destroyed.
This treatment would see the insulin-producing cells, or islets, normalise blood sugar levels without the need for insulin injections.
More than 150,000 Australians have type 1 diabetes.
They've already had success through clinical trials where human cells were used from organ donors. Three out of six patients who took part in the trial stopped insulin injections completely.
But because of a lack of donors the number of patients who could be treated in this way was limited. Problems also arise when the body's immune system rejects the transplant.
Currently, pancreatic islet cell transplantation is the only known cure for type 1 diabetes.
The institute's Centre for Transplant and Renal Research is now leading a larger Australian consortium which aims to examine anti-rejection treatments that may reduce the risk of islet cell grafts failing.
In order to create a limitless supply of insulin-producing cells, the centre is using genetically modified pigs as islet donors. Scientists are investigating ways to design pancreatic islet cells from pigs that will be more resistant to the human immune system.
Full Article.
Research hope for diabetes
Linear Mode
