Creating immune-evasive beta cells from stem cells for diabetes treatment
Official title: ModRNA-based Direct Programming of Universal Donor hiPSCs into Immune Evasive Beta Cells
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10809745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to turn special stem cells into insulin-producing cells for people with type 1 diabetes, using advanced technology to help these cells avoid being attacked by the immune system, so they can be safely transplanted.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $224,570 |
| NIH project number | 5R56DK133147-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10809745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with type 1 diabetes who may benefit from new treatment options involving cell transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with type 2 diabetes or those who do not require insulin therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method to convert human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into pancreatic beta cells, which are crucial for insulin production in diabetes patients. The approach utilizes CRISPR technology to activate specific genes that promote the formation of these cells while ensuring they can evade the immune system, allowing for successful transplantation. By generating universal donor beta cells, the research aims to provide a solution for type 1 diabetes that minimizes the risk of rejection by the patient's immune system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a breakthrough treatment for type 1 diabetes, allowing patients to receive insulin-producing cells without the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using hiPSCs for beta cell generation is promising, the specific method of creating immune-evasive cells using CRISPR is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lian, Xiaojun — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Lian, Xiaojun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.