Alberta Diabetes Foundation announces funding for four new projects in Alberta.

EDMONTON, AB - In conjunction with World Diabetes Day, Alberta Diabetes Foundation is pleased to announce funding for four new projects in Alberta, with a total investment of $406,000.

"In the eight years I've been on the board, this is the most excited I have been by the science we are investing in." said chair of the Alberta Diabetes Foundation Board of Directors Gillian Clarke. "I truly have hope for my family."

"The investments in innovation this year not only represent the breath of excellence Alberta researchers have it in diabetes, but the real hope to move the needle!" added Alberta Diabetes Foundation Executive Director Brad Fournier.

The following projects will build on Alberta’s tradition of diabetes research excellence:

“Body Heal Thyself” - James Shapiro (University of Alberta) This world-class research initiative from the developer of the Edmonton Protocol has the potential to cure diabetes by developing personalized stem-cell based therapies. Dr. Shapiro and his lab aim to re-program stem cells generated from the T1D’s own body into beta cells that are both insulin-producing cells and shielded from the autoimmune attack. In other words, if successful, the recipient would be cured of diabetes using their own cells! Because this procedure would not require anti-rejection drugs, it could also mean that everyone living with diabetes, including young children, could potentially live an injection-free life. We note that this research is complex and could take years to complete, but the projected result is extraordinary.

“Nanomedicines tackle Huge Disease” - Pere Santamaria (University of Calgary - Cumming School of Medicine) Dr. Santamaria is a world leader in nanomedicine – and his aim is to cure diabetes and indeed, many other autoimmune diseases. This Calgary based collaboration will use nanotechonology at a molecular level to tune or switch the immune cells that cause the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells into protective immune cells that work to suppress the attack. By stopping the auto-immune attack, those people with T1D can once again regenerate their own beta cells and produce their own insulin; all without the need for anti-rejection medication.

“A Better Version of the Edmonton Protocol” - Andrew Pepper (Dept of Surgery - Alberta Diabetes Institute) One of the major issues with islet transplantation is that close to half of the islets being transplanted are lost within the first few days post-transplant. This means at least two pancreas donors are required for each islet transplantation performed under the Edmonton Protocol. As with all organ transplantation, the “supply” of donor pancreases can be a big hurdle in limiting the number of islet transplants that can be performed. This project will examine one of the mechanisms of islet cell death with the aim of stopping that process. Less islet cell death means less donor pancreases required per transplant which means more people would be able to receive the transplant. Andrew is brilliant new scientist and is the Alberta Diabetes Foundation Research Scholar.

“Results that Quick?” - Jean Buteau & Gina Rayat (University of Alberta - Human Nutrition) The advancement of science has informed us that people with T1D still continue to produce islets and the insulin producing beta cells within them. However, the auto-immune attack continues to kill off these new healthy cells as they are produced. The goal of this project is insulin producing beta cell preservation and regeneration by inhibiting the mechanisms that destroy those cells. Dr. Buteau and his team are working with a science company already in Phase II clinical trials with a clinical drug focused on treating people with Type 2 Diabetes. Based on compelling preliminary data, they believe that this drug could, with their targeted approach and intervention, be used to assist people with T1D to regenerate their own beta cells and produce enough insulin to live a healthy life – diabetes free! Notably, the fact that they are focusing on an existing clinical drug already in Phase II Trials accelerates the pace of the research and the outcomes.

The Alberta Diabetes Foundation funds innovative research for the prevention and treatment of all forms of diabetes. We are aligned with the Alberta Diabetes Institute, one of the world’s finest diabetes research facilities and progress is being made. Funding is disbursed, whether at the University of Calgary or University of Alberta, when and where it’s needed most, moving projects along that may otherwise be stalled.