Possible Diabetes Cure Via Destruction of Targeted Killer T Cells

It began as an idea that is now closer to getting started, a new concept for preventing the destruction of beta cells and possibly curing diabetes. Professor Nora Sarvetnick, PhD, at the Scripps Research Institute will be the principal investigator in collaboration with Richard K. Bernstein, MD. It has been demonstrated that most if not all diabetics still have some pancreatic beta cells that are capable of producing insulin and of replicating. Automatic self replacement of beta cells would occur were it not for their ongoing destruction by agents of the immune system called killer T cells. Several groups of investigators are working to destroy killer T cells in order to cure diabetes. These groups are not attempting to isolate the specific killer cells that target pancreatic beta cells. Such efforts therefore can damage the immune system and cause serious long term consequences including infections and malignancies.

First phase funding will be used to test a new proprietary* method that isolates and targets only the culprit killer T cells that perpetuate diabetes, leaving the rest of the immune system intact. It is believed that once these culprit cells are identified, straightforward conventional methods can be used to selectively destroy them without adverse consequences to other tissues.

*The details of the proprietary method will be disclosed to appropriate institutional review boards, peer review committees cooperating fellow investigators and to major donors.

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