Posted by Ellen on October 17, 2002 at 15:08:54:
Please note - this will be a discussion at Diabetes Station Chat room: http://www.diabetesstation.org/chat
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROGRAMS:
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WILL WE ALL GET ISLETS ONE DAY?
Gordon Weir, MD
Section Head, Islet Transplantation and Cell Biology
Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, 9:00 P.M. US EAST COAST TIME
Under the direction of Dr. Gordon Weir, research in islet transplantation and cell biology at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston focuses on finding a
source of insulin producing islet cells to create a sufficient supply for all those in need. Work is underway to explore the potential of pig islets, adult stem
cells from human pancreases, and embryonic stem cells. Joslin is also the home of one of 10 regional Islet Cell Resource (ICR) Centers funded by the
NCRR of the National Institutes of Health. The mission of these ICRs is to improve the quality of human islets used for transplantation.
The research team at Joslin is developing ways to protect these cells from destruction by the immune system using encapsulation and gene transfer
technologies.