Research

Mission

The goal of the research effort of the Diabetes Division is to translate the cellular and molecular insights gained at the laboratory bench into interventions that will both cure and prevent juvenile diabetes. These research efforts under the direction Dr. Aldo A. Rossini.

Juvenile Diabetes

The first focus of research work in the Diabetes Division is understanding the cause of Juvenile (also called "Type 1") diabetes. This is the form of diabetes that affects predominantly children. To learn more about juvenile diabetes, we study animals that appear to get much the same kind of diabetes that children do. The animals include both rats and mice, specifically "BB/Wor" rats and NOD mice. The have given us valuable clues about how to prevent and cure juvenile diabetes.

Islet Transplantation

The second focus is the cure of juvenile diabetes by islet transplantation. We have developed new methods for the induction of “immunological tolerance” that are very effective in mice. We are hopeful that that this new technology will eventually lead to significant improvement in our ability to cure human diabetes by the transplantation of new islets. While this new technology remains under development, we are also evaluating human islet transplantation protocols based on standard immunosuppressive medications. Through June, 2004, two patients have received this form of islet transplantation at UMass.

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