islet cell replacement

The Edmonton Protocol demonstrated the promise of islet transplantation as a treatment for those living with type 1 diabetes. Historically islet transplantation has relied on organ donors, which has a few drawbacks including: limited availability, heterogeneity in preparation and genetics, high cost, and need for lifelong immunosuppression. We wish to move beyond islet tranplantations and our research focusses on usings pluripotent stem cells as a starting material. The specific areas we focus on are:

1) Can we make stem cell-derived beta cells that are fully mature and functional?

We have developed approaches to track the maturation of stem cell-derived beta cells and screening approaches to uncover what factors may be important for establishing glucose-induced insulin secretion after birth. Ongoing work with the MacDonald Lab and others aims to understand how these factors influce beta cell biology

2) Can we make stem cell-derived islets that are more resilient to transplantation stresses?

Over the course of our research and in collaboration with the Verchere Lab and the Johnson Lab we have found a number of factors that prevent stem cell-derived beta cell death. Currently, we are using our skills in genome engineering to generate stem cells that may be better able to resist the stresses that accompany transplantation in order that fewer beta cells need to be transplanted

3) Can we make stem cell-derived islets that evade immune destruction?

We have discovered a new factors and approaches for cloaking stem cell derived islets from the immune system. In collaboration with the Levings Lab and Verchere Lab we are continuing to explore how we might use this knowledge to remove the need for lifelong systemic immunosuppression following and islet cell transplantation.