102517Development of a human 3D in vitro model of pancreatic beta cell healthClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKDiabetes is a serious condition where the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too high because the body either cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin or cannot use the insulin effectively. There is no known cure for diabetes, and although many treatment options are available, they often do not prevent the disabling long-term complications of the disease. In the search for new treatments, researchers are now trying to find drugs that will protect the insulin-producing (beta) cells of the pancreas. To support this research, the aim of this project is to develop a new 3D human cell-based model of pancreatic beta cell health. The model will be developed using freshly isolated human islets. The team will then investigate whether a more sustainable human cell source can be used and whether the model can be miniaturised, so more drugs can be tested in each assay. If the project is successful, it will enable the faster testing of potential new anti-diabetes drugs, and ultimately help to identify new and improved treatments for diabetes. If widely adopted, the resulting model will also reduce the number of animals currently used in diabetes research and drug discovery.