Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system destroys the insulin-producing (beta) cells, of the pancreas. As with all organ failure, tissue transplantation can provide a cure, but only if suitable donor tissue is available. To eliminate the need for organ donors, we are developing ways to manufacture beta cells in the lab using stem cells, a type of cell that can be stimulated to change into another type of cell, under the right conditions. Our current challenge is to produce stem-cell-derived beta cells that generate insulin as effectively as a healthy pancreas and also survive long term after transplantation. I am investigating the effect of co-transplanting beta cells with healthy immune cells. Specifically I will examine the effect of macrophages and regulatory T cells, which are immune cells that reduce inflammation and contribute to tissue repair, in part by helping generate new blood vessels. If we can leverage the regenerative properties of these immune cells to stimulate long-term survival of stem-cell-derived beta cells, we can not only treat the T1D but lessen or eliminate the need for immune suppressive drugs, which are needed to prevent rejection of donor tissues. This work has potential to change current treatment for T1D and provide a permanent cure for thousands of Canadians with this disease.