Diabetes Research

Stem Cell Research

Stem cells are unspecialised cells that exist in the body. When they divided they can produce cells that are specialised to do certain functions, for example produce insulin.

Pancreatic stem cells, if found, could allow the pancreas to re-generate the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. Stem cells in the eye could be used in a similar fashion to actually improve vision.

Originally stem cells were only known to exist in the embryo but recent work has found them in adults in various places in the body.

As you can gather from all the articles stem cell research is progressing rapidly, its a popular story that the media are keen on.

The 8th of September 2005 Guardian article Has stem cell research been over-hyped? Gives a little needed balance. Quite timely and written before the South Korean fake research was discovered.

The International Stem Cell Forum's What are Stem Cells? page, and the site in general gives more background information.

Pancreas Islet Transplants

Cells are taken from the Islets of Langerhans (which produce insulin) in a donor pancreas for transplanting into the liver. The Edmonton Protocol (from Alberta, Canada) is a series of changes to the previous islet transplant procedures that have increased the transplant success rate. Latest results show an 80% success rate one year after the transplant.

Problems and Limitations
1. May require multiple transplants.
2. Limited number of donors.
3. Drugs needed for life to suppress rejection of transplanted cells.

The 26th May 2004 progress report shows a gradual improvement in blocking rejection of the transplanted cells. Some animal subjects still producing insulin 5 years after the transplant.