Pancreas transplantation continues to represent the gold standard for durable beta-cell replacement, and advances in preservation techniques, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and expanded donor criteria are steadily improving outcomes and extending access to more patients.

Islet transplantation has confirmed its transformative role in restoring safety and stability to people with severe hypoglycemia, while the development of global Good Practice Guidelines and efforts toward standardized islet quality assessment are paving the way for broader clinical implementation worldwide.

Stem-cell–derived beta-cell therapies have now reached phase 3 clinical trials and are opening the door to scalable, reproducible, and potentially immunosuppression-free solutions. Meanwhile, innovations in bioengineering, from encapsulation devices to 3D bioprinting, and in digital health, from continuous glucose monitoring to automated insulin delivery, are reshaping our therapeutic horizon.

Finally, advances in immunology and tolerance-inducing strategies—from novel monoclonals to Treg therapy and new biomarker platforms—are redefining the way we understand and control rejection and autoimmunity.

Taken together, these achievements demonstrate that our community is no longer operating at the margins of diabetes care but is now at the very center of regenerative medicine and curative strategies.

As I begin my presidency, I am committed to fostering collaboration across disciplines and continents, to supporting and empowering the next generation of investigators, to promoting harmonization and standardization in both research and clinical practice, and to ensuring that our innovations are translated into equitable access for patients worldwide. The vision of IPITA has always been clear: a life without diabetes. Thanks to the dedication, creativity, and perseverance of this extraordinary community, I am confident that we are moving ever closer to making that vision a reality.

With gratitude and determination,

Lorenzo Piemonti
President, IPITA