100 years after insulin was invented, a cure is near....

[Amity Island]

Hi Everyone,

This is a recent TED talk by Paul Laikind on the stem cell based cure for type 1. He genuinely seems very confident that after almost exactly 100 years since the making of insulin for Type 1 diabetics, a cure is very, very near.

If you're short on time, skip to 11.00 mins for relevant point in talk.

 

[trophywench]

So is it due in 2022 or 23 then?

 

[mikeyB]

Well, that talk was given last October. It was part of a push by Laikind to secure $80m funding for his company to continue to pursue their stem cell research. That’s not a criticism, but it shows that it still years away. They’ve already spent years on it.

They are not the only company looking at this, it’s the Holy Grail for financial reward. But they all face the same problems - rejection of the cells, and limiting their growth and spread.

 

[Amity Island]

Well, that talk was given last October. It was part of a push by Laikind to secure $80m funding for his company to continue to pursue their stem cell research. That’s not a criticism, but it shows that it still years away. They’ve already spent years on it.

They are not the only company looking at this, it’s the Holy Grail for financial reward. But they all face the same problems - rejection of the cells, and limiting their growth and spread.

Mikey, I thought that the rejection problem was only with transplanted cells from another, aren't the stem cells supposed to overcome this problem as they are derived from the patients own body?

 

[m1dnc]

Twenty years ago an endocrinologist told me that stem cell therapy would transform T1 treatment 'within 10 years'.

In the 60's and 70's we were told that atomic fusion would provide a commercial source of clean energy 'by the end of the century'.

Exciting concepts, but there's still a long way to go.

 

[mikeyB]

Mikey, I thought that the rejection problem was only with transplanted cells from another, aren't the stem cells supposed to overcome this problem as they are derived from the patients own body?

I was using the term loosely - Type I Diabetes is caused by the immune system destroying the Beta cells that produce insulin. So if you produce a new collection of Beta cells, even if they are from your own stem cells, the same thing happens.

 

[Matt Cycle]

I was using the term loosely - Type I Diabetes is caused by the immune system destroying the Beta cells that produce insulin. So if you produce a new collection of Beta cells, even if they are from your own stem cells, the same thing happens.

What about the beta cells that aren't destroyed in some people? We have several (T1) people on the forum who quite clearly have some fully functioning beta cells. I don't know enough about it but are these some kind of super cells? If they could find out why some beta cells are not killed off in some people could this help in stem cell therapy for these people?

 

[nonethewiser]

Can but hope, would be nice to spend a few years diabetes free before time is up.

 

[mikeyB]

What about the beta cells that aren't destroyed in some people? We have several (T1) people on the forum who quite clearly have some fully functioning beta cells. I don't know enough about it but are these some kind of super cells? If they could find out why some beta cells are not killed off in some people could this help in stem cell therapy for these people?

Don’t disagree Matt, but that’s a problem they have to solve before this gets off the ground.

 

[HOBIE]

If you have a look at post about NUK on bottom post There site is amazing for T1s, 😎

 

[trophywench]

Yours IS the 'bottom' post on this thread. Do you mean DUK anyway?

 

[Shropshire Lass]

Hi Everyone,

This is a recent TED talk by Paul Laikind on the stem cell based cure for type 1. He genuinely seems very confident that after almost exactly 100 years since the making of insulin for Type 1 diabetics, a cure is very, very near.

If you're short on time, skip to 11.00 mins for relevant point in talk.

Thank you, very interesting, even if it takes years at least research is being done. Thank you.