TRANSPLANTATION OF PIG ISLETS TO TREAT DIABETES
Grant number: 1061868 | Funding period: 2014 - 2018
Completed
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes destroys the body’s insulin-producing cells (islets), resulting in high blood sugar levels and the prospect of devastating complications. Replacement of islets by transplantation is the only way to restore normal blood sugar control, but (i) is limited by the shortage of human donors and (ii) carries risks associated with anti-rejection drugs. This project aims to solve both problems by using humanized pigs as donors combined with a novel approach to inducing tolerance to the transplanted islets.