PSEUDOISLET: Generation of bioengineered pancreatic islet microorgans for insulin replacement, therapy in diabetes mellitus

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0291

Key words (English)

Biotechnology; Environmental Protection; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Waste Management

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK3-CT-2002-01777

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

Diabetes is a major health problem in Europe. Limited availability of donor tissue restricts conventional transplants treatments. Therefore, we propose to bioengineer pancreatic islet micro organs (called pseudoislets) using glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells of differentiated stem cell origin. These micro organs should be suitable substitutes to restore the function of the destroyed pancreatic islets in a diabetic individual. The combination of the bioengineering of insulin-secreting surrogate cells with techniques for generation of a pancreatic islet micro organ represents a highly innovative experimental approach. This Cell Factory concept for an innovative insulin replacement therapy, applied to cells of human origin, can offer, due to the unlimited supply, a cure to many diabetic patients. The long-standing expertise and experience of the partners in this proposal bring together the capabilities to achieve this highly desirable goal.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0291