Scientists finding new ways to target diabetes
Reported November 15, 2007
Diabetes researchers hope new funding will allow them to develop better treatments for adult and children sufferers.
Scientists will use the new funds to move their research from mice into larger animals and then into human clinical trials.
One promising approach involves giving patients a transplant of insulin producing cells known as islet cells.
But patients need to take drugs to switch off their immune system which can lead to organ damage.
Scientists at the Garvan Institute have come up with a solution by changing the islet cells so they are not picked up by the immune system.
“What we are aiming to do is to give them like an invisible cloak so they go under the immune radar to turn off that attack,” said Dr Shane Grey.
While some adults with diabetes have undergone the transplant technique, it remains too risky for children with the condition.
“Now what we really want to do is overcome these additional obstacles that prevent us from giving it to children,” Dr Grey added.
Holly Murdoch, 14, is one of thousands of Australian children dealing every day with type one diabetes.
It is a condition which impacts on her whole family.
“The baby now sleeps through but I’m still up every night for Holly checking her during the night in order to keep her safe,” Holly’s mother Lucy said.