UBC study could lead to breakthrough in diabetes research

Researchers could be one step closer to a potential cure for type 1 diabetes.

A new study out of UBC in conjunction with Vancouver Coastal Health looks at one of the world’s first genetically engineered cell replacement therapies. The stem cell-based treatment would enable people with type 1 diabetes to produce their own insulin, removing the need for daily insulin injections.

Previous transplant therapies have had significant side effects for patients due to the immunosuppressant drugs used. But the new study’s lead researcher, Dr. David Thompson, says the transplant cells have been specifically engineered so that these “toxic drugs” will not be necessary.

“The major advance for this study is that there has been genetic engineering to modify the cells in such a way that they can now evade recognition by the host immune system and therefore the host immune system will not attack them and destroy them,” he explained.

A @StemCellNetwork-funded clinical trial based on research by Dr. Timothy Kieffer and colleagues will use genetically engineered stem cells to treat type 1 diabetes.

Story: https://t.co/imXoObWsJg
Study: https://t.co/oMQV4o4urm@SBME_UBC @UBCcps @StemCellNetwork pic.twitter.com/LUDlsUjVX5

— UBC Life Sciences Institute (@ubclifesciences) May 13, 2022

The researchers have received a $1-million grant from Canada’s Stem Cell Network to conduct research and a clinical trial, the latter of which is predicted to last up to two years. But Dr. Thompson is hopeful the process could be sped up if early results are promising.

“If you have outstanding results, you get a breakthrough technology award where the study will be stopped because the treatment is so clearly superior to anything else out there, that it is not fair to withhold it from the wider population.”

Diabetes Canada estimates that Canadians living with type 1 diabetes are spending between $1,100 and $2,600 a year on daily insulin injections.

Researchers are unsure what the eventual treatment cost will be, but are hopeful they will be able to keep prices low, since manufacturing the individual cells is inexpensive and there is an unlimited supply. Dr. Thompson says funding is key for the innovative treatment to hit the market.

“If successful, this is a treatment which could be widely applied to everyone with diabetes, so there has to be some way to fund it.”

Researchers also believe that, if successful, this “chain-editing technology” could be applied to any cell type or organ.

“This is really the first step in a revolution in medical treatment where we can manipulate the immune system through genetic engineering and lead to great advances. Diabetes would be the first step.”

Thompson is excited about the prospects of this first-of-its-kind trial, which is set to begin at the end of the year.

“Every so often, there really are breakthroughs. A generation ago, it was whole organ transplants that came on the scene from nowhere, […] the potential here is limitless.”