StemCell Therapy

Scientists at the University of Alberta just cured diabetes in mice, opening the floodgates for research on adapting this cure for humans.

The potential cure is a landmark moment in preventing the growing prevalence of diabetes in our society, a disease which, according to WHO, burdens 422 million people worldwide.

The process involves a stem cell application that reverse-engineers insulin islets out of blood cellsthis cured mice of the disease.

Weve been taking blood samples from patients with diabetes, winding those cells from the blood back in time so that they can be changed, and then were moving them forward in time so that we can turn them into the cells we want, explains the procedures pioneer Dr. James Shapiro to CTV, who famously developed the Edmonton Protocolanother diabetes treatment, in the 1990s.

The Edmonton Protocol involved using islet cells from organ transplants, but required powerful anti-rejection medication. The new stem cell process uses the patients own cells so rejection is impossible.

Like any good scientist, Shapiro wont move beyond the phrase more research is needed, but hopes he can receive support from governments if he can prove the science is the same in humans.

There needs to be preliminary data and ideally a handful of patients that would demonstrate to the world that this is possible and that its safe and effective, said Shapiro.

RELATED: Excited Scientists Make Type-2 Diabetes Breakthrough With First-Ever Glimpse At How Protein Behind Disease Works

The lack of funding has led to a group of volunteers to create a 22 by 22 campaign to raise $22 million by 2022 in order to help advance the procedure so it can be available to humans as soon as possible.

Canada is no stranger to making breakthroughs in diabetes treatmentsSir Frederick Banting had the idea for insulin 100 years ago, with 2022 marking the centennial anniversary of its groundbreaking first use.

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Read more:
100 Years After First Diabetes Breakthrough, Canadian Scientists Believe They've Found a Cure - Good News Network

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