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Engineering Improved Stem Cell-Derived Islet Cells for Replacement Therapies

May 2025 Council

Lead Division/Office

DEM

Point(s) of Contact

Albert Hwa, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

This initiative concept is to support research in understanding how to engineer improved stem cell-derived islet cell products that can result in improved cell replacement therapy outcomes. Unlike cadaveric human islets, stem cell-derived islet cell products are generated from well-defined and highly controlled cell bank sources. Their banking, manufacturing, and quality control processes can be used to instill optimized cell characteristics resulting in more durable graft viability and function. This proposed concept aims to stimulate studies on targets and pathways amenable to such engineering approaches and to encourage preclinical testing and validation of such strategies.