Islet transplantation for the treatment of Type I diabetes has been proven effective, with many patients no longer needing insulin administration, regaining normal blood glucose levels and retaining islet function for years after the transplant.

Currently, islets are harvested from deceased donors, they are implanted in the liver, and their survival is dependent on the use of powerful immunosuppressive agents.

Therefore, there are still many unresolved issues that require the definition of improved treatment strategies. Among these, the identification of alternative sources of islets, the use of a safer implant site and the use of strategies that will allow for islet survival with reduced/no immunosuppression.

This presentation will address these three issues and focus on the identification of novel beta cell sources in the hapatopancreatic biliary tree and in the exocrine pancreas, on the use of the omental pouch as a safer site for islet transplantation and on the potential positive impact of strategies that aim at the induction of immunoprotection/tolerance by MDSC (Myeloid-derived suppressor cells).

Additional topics will include the definition of effective strategies to image and target beta cells in vivo as well as the use of encapsulation to promote islet survival and protect islets from immune rejection.