Increasing Cell Supply
Over the last several years, the Diabetes Research Institute has shown the extraordinary potential of cell replacement therapy to restore insulin function.
Now, a major focus for us is to develop a reliable and unlimited supply of healthy insulin-producing cells to treat the many millions of people who can benefit from cell replacement therapies.
Currently, insulin-producing islets are obtained from deceased organ donors. However, each year only 1,500 organs become available for this procedure – a miniscule fraction of what’s needed to help the millions with diabetes.
We believe stem cells could be used to alleviate the shortage of insulin-producing cells available for transplant. Stem cells are the most basic form of cells and are characterized by two unique properties:- They reproduce quickly and indefinitely
- They have the potential to become any cell type of the body and are simply waiting for "instructions" to be programmed into one tissue or another
Together, these two properties may hold the key to an unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cells: Learn what stems cells are, and find out about their remarkable potential, through this extensive FAQ.
Turning Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Cells: DRI scientists have been making significant progress by using emerging technologies to turn stem cells into insulin-producing cells.