Using human stem cells to understand and treat diabetes

Using human stem cells to understand and treat diabetes

Air date: Thursday, December 15, 2016, 3:00:00 PM

Category: WALS - Wednesday Afternoon Lectures

Runtime: 00:57:19

Description: NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

One goal of regenerative medicine is to replace missing or dysfunctional cells in patients. The Melton lab has pursued this goal for diabetics, focusing on the possibility of turning human stem cells into functional pancreatic beta cells, the cells that sense glucose and provide just the right amount of insulin. People with either Type 1 (juvenile) or Type 2 diabetes could benefit from the availability of an unlimited supply of functional beta cells. In this lecture, Dr. Melton will discuss the challenges of and progress in producing functional beta cells and point to the way forward on transplanting those cells into patients.

Author: Douglas A. Melton, Ph.D., Xander University Professor at Harvard University; Co-Director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute