The research transforming what's possible for people with type 1 diabetes: islet transplantation
"We know islet transplantation offers real promise, and making it a simpler and more accessible procedure could transform how – and how many – people can benefit from it."
– Professor Toby Coates, principal investigator
Islet transplantation offers a potentially life-changing treatment for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
In T1D, the body’s immune system destroys islets – clusters of cells in the pancreas that contain beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. Without them, the body can’t regulate blood glucose levels on its own.
Islet transplantation involves implanting healthy insulin-producing islets into a person with T1D, allowing them to naturally produce insulin again.
This could reduce – or even eliminate – the need for manual insulin injections.
What's holding us back from making islet transplantation widely available?
Right now, this procedure isn't widely available due to challenges and safety issues, including:
Transplantation site challenges
The liver isn’t an ideal site for transplantation, as the environment doesn’t provide the best conditions for the survival and function of transplanted islets. Plus, the procedure requires invasive surgery under general anaesthetic, and monitoring of the transplanted cells is challenging.
The need for immunosuppression
As with any other transplant, islet transplantation into the liver requires lifelong immunosuppression to prevent the body from attacking the transplanted islets, and to prevent the recurrence of islet destruction. Immunosuppression increases susceptibility to other infections and health complications, meaning the therapy is out of reach for children and many adults.
Transplantation methodology
The isolation and culture of islets from donors prior to transplantation inflames the cells, increasing the chances of transplant failure.
The good news?
"Our research project is aiming to create a future where more people with T1D can access islet transplants, so they can make insulin for themselves again."
– Professor Toby Coates, principal investigator
Breakthrough T1D-funded research is exploring a new method of islet transplantation – with promising results.
As the liver isn’t an ideal transplantation site, Professor Toby Coates and his team are exploring whether it’s possible to transplant islet cells into the skin instead, using something called a biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM).
Once the islets are transplanted using the BTM, the aim is for people with T1D to regain the ability to produce their own insulin.
"The BTM is inserted into the inner upper arm and will completely break down over time, but the blood vessels it has stimulated to be created will remain. So it leaves beautiful blood vessels behind that can support and nourish islet cells in a location where they can be easily monitored and removed if necessary."
– Professor Toby Coates, principal investigator
If successful, this trial could lead to a safer, more effective and more widely-available treatment – and even a potential cure – for T1D.
Alec, who has been living with T1D for over five decades, courageously became the first person in the world to undergo this groundbreaking procedure. He did this not just for himself, but in hopes of changing the future for his daughter, who also lives with T1D, and for the more than 135,000+ Australians with the condition.
Early results show that the BTM is helping the transplanted islets to thrive, and Alec's quality of life has drastically improved.
"I’m still on my insulin pump but my insulin needs have significantly reduced. I don’t get the incredibly high glucose levels anymore. I don’t have as deep a low glucose levels as I used to either, and I don’t get the symptoms."
– Alec
What's next?
Complete findings from the trial are expected to be published later this year, but Alec's results suggest it will be very promising for those impacted by T1D.
But we need your help.
By making a tax-deductible donation to Breakthrough T1D, you’ll be helping to get therapies, technologies and procedures in the hands of the Australian T1D community faster – and ultimately changing what's possible for Alec, his daughter and the more than 135,000 Australians with the condition.
But that’s not all: when you donate by 30 June your donation will be DOUBLED by our matching partners – helping us create a world without T1D even faster.
