Although experimental islet isolation and transplantation has continued for over 25 years, the results of human islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes were disappointing until June 2000 when the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada reported 100% insulin independence in a cohort of seven patients. The study introduced several innovations now under evaluation worldwide. In the United Kingdom, an Islet Transplant Consortium has been established to co-ordinate clinical trials in several centres. The Canadian results have renewed hope of establishing islet transplantation as a treatment for diabetes while highlighting the need to identify plentiful sources of insulin secreting tissue and alternatives to current immunosuppressive therapies.
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