Issue 111 Item 7 Stem Cell Research Considered A Source of New Therapies to Trea

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