Scientists from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne have achieved a significant breakthrough in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Scientists from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne have achieved a significant breakthrough in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Their research, published in the Nature scientific journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, reveals a promising avenue that could potentially replace the need for regular insulin injections.
The study builds upon prior work by Monash University scientists and involves the manipulation of existing pancreatic stem cells to stimulate the production of insulin.
Lead researcher and Baker Institute scientist, Professor Sam El-Osta, explained that the team was able to harness patients’ remaining pancreatic cells, influencing them to behave like insulin-producing beta cells. This discovery could potentially modify the course of diabetes, eliminating the necessity for round-the-clock insulin injections in some individuals living with type 1 diabetes.
The next step in this groundbreaking research involves pre-clinical animal trials, paving the way for potential treatments for both children and adults in the future.
The research utilizes two existing cancer drugs, already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which could expedite the development process. Professor El-Osta highlighted the potential for a rapid treatment compared to current options, stating, “We can quickly influence insulin restoration in a number of days in a dish from tissues derived from type 1 diabetes donors, both children and adults.”
Diabetes Australia estimates that around 134,000 people in the country are living with type 1 diabetes, representing approximately 10% of all diabetes cases. The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute researchers express optimism that their work could extend to aiding individuals with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes as well.
Chief executive of the Australian Diabetes Society and University of Melbourne associate professor, Sof Andrikopoulos, described the research as “remarkable” and potentially the “holy grail” for the 135,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes. He emphasized the potential for this research to lead to a cure for type 1 diabetes and significant improvements in type 2 diabetes, ultimately reducing the burden of the disease.
Dr. Andrikopoulos, though hopeful for the future, cautioned that progress toward a cure would require consistent funding for diabetes research. The collective excitement surrounding this breakthrough underscores the potential for a transformative shift in diabetes treatment, offering hope to those affected by this chronic condition.