EXPERTS
- Carolyn Robertson (1)
- John Golenski (1)
- Scott King (2)
Have a question about diabetes research, especially about islet transplantation? Looking for sound advice about managing type 1 diabetes? Interested in the work of our foundation? Ask here, and an expert from the Hanuman team will respond.
CATEGORIES
- Living With Diabetes (1)
- Research (2)
- Foundation (1)
ASK AN EXPERT
Q
Greetings,
the alginate sheet to encapsulate living islet cells implanted in people with Type 1 Diabetes has greatly captured my interest. It's been mentioned that human trials are set to begin in 2013. Why not in 2012? In addition how long will this human trial take? Or should I say in how many years? Right now all other different types of Type 1 research is into different "phases" of human trials and it feels that it will never come into fruition. I still don't see anything coming into the market place. In addition once this is introduced to the public how much would this procedure cost? I know I am a little ahead with these questions but I am getting very tired of waiting and still waiting. Right now since my very first day of Diagnosis there is nothing out there. Insulin was discovered in 1921. Guess what we are still insulin dependent as we are still using insulin only there are different versions to it. What is wrong with this picture as we are now in 2012 and still there is nothing out there. I also agree the Edmonton Protocal is not the best choice as you have to take immune suppression drugs for life and suffer with the side effects and other health problems. In 3-5 years this comes back so it's NOT a cure.
Best regards,
from a frustrated Type 1 Diabetic for 22+ miserable years.
—Tania D.
A
From Islet Sheet Medical founder Scott King:Tania, as another person with long-term type 1 diabetes (since 1977) I share your interest. We have been working on the Islet Sheet for many years and the fact is many years will be required before it will be a product on the market. Part of this is the inherent difficulty of medical product development, and part is the low level of funding we have been able to get for the Islet Sheet research. Right now we have generous support from the Hanuman Medical Foundation and are making good progress.
We are at an important crossroads, namely large animal studies. Most 'hopeful' ideas are promoted to a gullible public with rodent results. We have always said that large animals studies are the best way to predict the value of the Islet Sheet in managing human diabetes, and now we are starting large animal studies. The good news is that initial success will lead to accelerated fund raising, and in this case additional funds will accelerate progress.
We cannot start human clinical studies this year because it will not be possible to get enough data to satisfy the gatekeepers of human clinical studies. But we might prove it will probably work in humans which will make a big difference.
