The first stem cell-derived islet cell transplantation for patients with Type 1 Diabetes at the University of Chicago (VX-880)
The procedure was performed according to the multicenter center trial protocol (VX-880). Islets were manufactured from stem cells by Vertex and shipped to us on the day of the transplant. They were infused into the patient liver under local anesthesia in the interventional radiology suite. Patient still requires taking daily anti-rejection medication. In contrast to the islets isolated from decease donor pancreas, stem cell -derived islets are available in unlimited amount and the procedure can be scheduled at patient convenience. If proven safe and effective, it can offered to any patient with T1DM who already received other organ transplantation (heart, kidney, liver, or lungs) or to those patients who remain “brittle” despite using modern glucose monitoring and insulin delivery technology. To read more and about the enrollment go to here
Additionally, we have just opened enrollment to another clinical trial, which does not require use of anti-rejection medications. Immnoprotective pouches containing stem cell-derived islets are surgically implanted behind muscles o the abdomen.
To read more about the study and enrollment go to here
Both studies allow only adults to be enrolled.
Enrollment for the second cohort of patients for testing of the bigger Sernova Pouches has been initiated.
After completion of the study in the first cohort of patients, new, bigger Sernova Pouches have been developed and implanted in two new patients. The second cohort will include 7 subjects in total.
Two manuscript accepted for the publication in the Am J Transplantation
-
The demise of islet allotransplantation in the US: A call for urgent regulatory update. The "Islets for US" Collaborative
-
Neither amyloid depositions nor hepatic steatosis are associated with marginal islet mass early after autotransplantation
Two abstracts accepted for ASTS Winter Symposium 2021
-
Islet Allotransplantation Into Pre-Vascularized Sernova Cell PouchTM - Preliminary Results From The University of Chicago. Press release
-
Anterior Rectus Sheath Versus Gibson Incision For Kidney Transplantation -Preliminary Experience.
4th Islet Transplantation at Medical University of Gdansk in Poland!
This is the 4rd pancreatic islet transplant in a patient with a kidney graft and poorly controlled type 1 diabetes, but the first one, where donor pancreas was procured in a distant city.
Congratulation Team Gdansk, great progress of the program.
Transplanting islet cells can fix brittle diabetes.
Why isn’t it available in the U.S.?
Dr. Camilo Ricordi points out regulatory barriers introduced by FDA, which leads to the extinction of islet transplantation in the US, while the rest of the world benefits from islet trials funded by US tax payers, due to less restrictive regulations.
3rd Islet Transplantation at Medical University of Gdansk in Poland!
This is the 3rd pancreatic islet transplant in a patient with a previous kidney transplant and poorly controlled type 1 diabetes, but the first one performed without our direct participation. Team Gdansk completed the procedure without complications. Congratulation.
Karolina carried out a second islet transplant in Gdansk, Poland.
Dr. Karolina Golab, our Lab Manager, flew to Poland for a second time to help to carry out an islet transplant procedure already in the second patient in Gdansk. We have been helping to develop that new and currently the only Islet Transplant Center in that country. She also went there and successfully isolated the islets during the first islet transplant in October of last year.
"C4"- as explosives, should shake transplant community to bring new idea and solutions for especially challenging problems. This is a new type of articles in the American Journal of Transplantation. We proudly contributed to the first article of this type discussing optimization of organ allocation in the USA.
