Newton Fund - Pretransplant gene therapy of pancreatic islet tissue; towards a therapy for Diabetes type I in Mexico
Lead Participant:
OXFORD EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Abstract
More than 1 million people in Mexico suffer from diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1), in which pancreatic islet cells
have been damaged so that they cannot make insulin to regulate body glucose levels. Today DM1 is the most
frequent metabolic disorder affecting infants and young people in Mexico. The diabetes has to be treated with
life-long, daily injections of insulin and often leads to serious health complications that affects quality of life.
Pancreatic islet transplantation can reverse the diabetes in these children soon after diagnosis and hence make
an immediate impact on their quality of life; we aim to establish an islet isolation and transplant programme in
Mexico. In addition, an innovative preclinical study will assess the strategy of using stem cell and gene
therapies to enhance the effectiveness and success of islet transplantation programmes in both the UK and
Mexico, and these aim to overcome the current problems associated with islet cellular injury and rejection.
The longer term benefits of the research and innovation programme will be reaslised through the
establishment of a joint UK-Mexico research centre in Mexico City.
have been damaged so that they cannot make insulin to regulate body glucose levels. Today DM1 is the most
frequent metabolic disorder affecting infants and young people in Mexico. The diabetes has to be treated with
life-long, daily injections of insulin and often leads to serious health complications that affects quality of life.
Pancreatic islet transplantation can reverse the diabetes in these children soon after diagnosis and hence make
an immediate impact on their quality of life; we aim to establish an islet isolation and transplant programme in
Mexico. In addition, an innovative preclinical study will assess the strategy of using stem cell and gene
therapies to enhance the effectiveness and success of islet transplantation programmes in both the UK and
Mexico, and these aim to overcome the current problems associated with islet cellular injury and rejection.
The longer term benefits of the research and innovation programme will be reaslised through the
establishment of a joint UK-Mexico research centre in Mexico City.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| OXFORD EXPRESSION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | £264,322 | £ 185,025 |
Participant |
||
| OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY | ||
| OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY | £90,501 | £ 90,501 |
| INNOVATE UK |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Robert Possee (Project Manager) |