Creating New Insulin-Making Cells from Stomach Stem Cells for Type 1 Diabetes
Engineering islet-like organoids from gastric stem cells for T1D cell replacement therapy
This project aims to grow new insulin-producing cells from stomach stem cells to help people with Type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174534 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For people with Type 1 diabetes, replacing damaged insulin-making cells could offer a cure. Our team is working to create a large supply of these new cells from easily accessible stomach stem cells. We've found a way to grow these stomach cells into "organoids" that can make insulin and have successfully reversed diabetes in mice. Now, we want to find the best stomach stem cell lines to produce even more effective insulin-making cells for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for individuals with Type 1 diabetes who might one day benefit from a cell replacement therapy.
Not a fit: Patients without Type 1 diabetes would not directly benefit from this specific cell replacement approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new cell replacement treatment for Type 1 diabetes that does not require long-term immune-suppressing medications.
How similar studies have performed: While deriving insulin-secreting cells from GI stem cells has shown feasibility, mass-producing these specific islet-like organoids from human GI tissues for widespread use is a novel aspect of this work.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rafii, Shahin — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Rafii, Shahin
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 below.