The HumEn project brings together six leading European stem cell-research groups and three industrial partners in a coordinated and collaborative effort aimed at developing glucose-responsive, insulin-producing beta cells for future cell-replacement therapy in diabetes.
Our goal is to develop insulin-producing beta cells for use as a cell therapy treatment for diabetes in the future. There has been a lot of progress in this area but fully mature and transplantable beta cells that can cure diabetes haven’t been made yet. To make progress we plan
STUDY IN DETAIL THE STEPS IT TAKES TO MAKE FULLY MATURE, INSULIN PRODUCING BETA CELLS.
Starting with human pluripotent stem cells (embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells) we aim to explore how to encourage these cells to make firstly endoderm cells, then pancreatic endoderm cells and then insulin–producing beta cells. Looking at the signals that drive cells through this step-wise path and the genes that are expressed as a result will help us learn how to encourage the cells to make beta cells. Initially we need to separate endoderm cells from the starter stem cells so we are developing fluorescent tags that are only revealed in these cells. From these we can look at producing pancreatic endoderm cells that can self-renew effectively in the lab. Ultimately we aim to produce from these insulin producing beta cells that can be transplanted into mice. This will allow us to test their survival rate, whether the cells produce insulin reliably and whether the transplanted cells are safe.
USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO DESCRIBE THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR GROWING BETA CELLS.
By exploring the detail of the signaling that lead cells through the step-wise pathway we can establish the best growth conditions for making self-renewing pancreatic endoderm cells and also functioning and transplantable insulin producing beta cells. As cells grow in 3D micro-environments in the body we are interested in exploring how different lab micro-environments effect the growth of the cells. We will test different surface topologies and chemicals to see how this effects cell growth. Optimising these methods will provide other scientists with the tools to produce these cells efficiently and reliably.
CREATE TOOLS FOR IDENTIFYING AND GROWING FUNCTIONAL BETA CELLS INCLUDING FOR USE IN THE CLINIC.
Our aim to create fluorescent tags means that other scientists will be able to sort endoderm cells, pancreatic endoderm cells and beta cells from other cells in the lab. This coupled with engineering optimal 2D and 3D surfaces for these cells to grow, including for clinical use, will hopefully lead to functional beta cells being grown clinically for transplantation.
