Islet transplant with a protective scaffold for diabetes in Veterans
Official title: Islet encapsulation and transplantation in an immunomodulatory scaffold for diabetestreatment
Funded at Kansas City VA Medical Center · NIH-11190408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A VA research team is testing a new way to transplant insulin-producing cells inside a protective scaffold to help veterans with diabetes achieve stable blood sugar.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006910-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Type 1 diabetes (and possibly Type 2) who are eligible for pancreatic islet transplantation at VA centers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for islet transplantation or without access to the transplant program may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores transplanting insulin-producing islets that are encapsulated and placed within a supportive scaffold to promote blood vessel growth and reduce immune rejection. The goal is to provide a durable, immune-protected source of insulin-producing cells for veterans with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The approach uses neonatal pig islets as a scalable source and a biomaterial scaffold to support graft survival after transplantation. If successful, this could lessen dependence on daily insulin injections and improve long-term glycemic control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans could achieve more stable blood sugar with less need for constant insulin injections and fewer treatment-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous islet transplantation strategies faced immune rejection and limited graft survival, but encapsulation and scaffolds are being explored to improve outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas City VA Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tse, Hubert M — Kansas City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Tse, Hubert M
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.