CLINICALISLETTRANSPLANTATION
Since2000,researchershavedemonstratedthat patientswithlong-standingdiabetescould
achieveinsulinindependencefollowinginfusionsofinsulin-producingislet cells.Thetechnique
wasrepeatedat severalcentersaroundtheworld,representinga tremendousstepintheglobal
effort tocurethedisease.
Inthefallof2006,the New England Journal of Medicine reportedonthelong-termresultsofthismulticenterislet transplant trial
usingtheEdmontonProtocol.Whilenearly90percent ofthestudyparticipantswereabletodiscontinueinsulininjectionsduring
thefirst year,overtimethetransplantedisletslost function,requiringmost patientstoresumelowdosesofinsulin.Despiteneeding
insulinagain,thepatientsmaintainedsomeinsulinproductionfromthetransplantedislets,allowingforeasy-to-manageblood
sugarsand,most importantly,without experiencingepisodesofhypoglycemia.
Aspart ofthetrial,DRI’sClinicalIsletTransplant teamfollowed23oftheislet transplant recipientsformorethanthreeyearsto
obtainacomprehensivemeasureoftheirqualityoflife.Thepatientswereevaluatedthroughinterviewsandquestionnairesbefore
andat specificintervalsfollowingtheirtransplants.
Rodolfo Alejandro,M.D. DirectorofClinicalIsletTransplantation
Dr. Rodolfo Alejandro is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Miller Miami School of
Medicine, and Director of Clinical Islet Transplantation, Director of Metabolic Studies Core and
Responsible Head for the Islet Cell Processing Facility at the Diabetes Research Institute.
He also serves as Associate Program Director for the General Clinical Research Center at the
University of Miami/Veterans Administration Medical Center. One of the top scientists involved in
islet transplantation, Dr. Alejandro combines years of extensive research and clinical experience.
He has contributed significantly to standardizing islet evaluation, and his observations on islet
transplantation in large animal models have helped spark the renewed interest in clinical islet
transplantation trials.
An author and coauthor of many works in the field of diabetes, Dr. Alejandro sits on numerous
editorial boards, and is the recipient of the Alpha Omega Alpha and the Pfizer Scholars Award
in diabetes.
44 DIABETES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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