Stem
Cell Research Considered A Source of New Therapies to Treat Diabetes
Stem
cells are a potential source of tissue for treating diabetes.
Embryonic
stem cell research is considered to be a possible source of new
therapies to treat some of the most devastating diseases, including
diabetes. Now, researchers at Oregon & Health Sciences University
(OHSU) have developed the first step in a monkey model of stem cell
transplantation-monkey cells that can produce and release insulin.
“Our
research confirms that stem cells are a potential source of tissue for
treating diabetes,” said Dr. Linda Lester, a researcher at OHSU who
presented the findings. “To our knowledge, we are the first group to
establish this with monkey cells.”
The
next step for Dr. Lester and her colleagues is to transplant similar
cells into diabetic animals and develop a pre-clinical model for stem
cell transplantation. They hope this work will facilitate clinical
trials using stem cells and eventually result in cell-based therapies
for diabetes. ENDO 2002
