Problem

Pancreatic beta-cells produce insulin and patients who do not have enough beta-cells need insulin therapy.

 

Solution

Beta-cells replacement through whole pancreas or isolated islet transplantation is a promising approach to re-establish blood glucose control, protect diabetic patients of severe hypoglycaemia and kidney diseases. However, limited availability of suitable donors and immunosuppression toxicity (required in case of transplantation) impair the widespread adoption of these techniques. 
This project aims to develop innovative bioengineered, insulin-secreting “constructs” with “built-in” vascular network designed to closely mimic the natural microenvironment of islets. The bioengineered insulin-secreting “constructs” (cells capable of secreting insulin) should be able to survive and function when implanted under the skin. This project represents a paradigm shift from traditional transplantation methods, moving towards pre-vascularized, bioengineered insulin-secreting constructs.

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Who

The project will be conducted in Dr. Ekaterine Berishvili's laboratory at the Diabetes Center of the University of Geneva. Her team includes Dr. Berishvili, who will lead the project, Drs. Juliette Bignard and Victor Galvan post-doctoral fellows, Antoine Marteyn, Fanny Lebreton, Kevin Bellofatto Scientific collaborators, Reine Hanna, Nicerine Krause, and Hiba Msheik PhD students, Shota Tsikhiseli Master student, Mrs. Lisa Visentin and Mrs. Caroline Rouget  laboratory technicians.

 

For more information about the group, please visit our page: 

https://www.unige.ch/medecine/diabetescentre/membres/dr-ekaterine-berishvili 

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(Principal Investigation: Prof. Ekaterine Berishvili; University of Geneva; Switzerland)