Diabetes Research

As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, sustainable treatment options are a critical necessity. The transplantation of stem cell-derived beta cells presents a novel and long-term solution for those suffering from type-I diabetes. A method to derive functional insulin-producing beta cells from hPSCs designed by Pagliuca, et al. (2014) presents a six-stage protocol using a combination of multiple small molecules and growth factors (including CHIR99021, Retinoic Acid, SANT-1, LDN193189, Compound E, and RepSox) and has shown promise in ameliorating hyperglycemia in mice.