Methods of making pancreatic islet cells

Patent Number: 6815203

This patent teaches ways of dedifferentiating pancreatic duct or exocrine cells and then redifferentiating the cells to generate functional islet cells. This patent is especially relevant in light of the Edmonton Protocol that provides methods of transplanting allogeneic pancreatic islets. The problem with the Edmonton Protocol is that it takes up to 2, sometimes even more pancreas's for 1 donor. If this patent can be combined with the Edmonton Protocol, then substantial medical progress can be made in the treatment of diabetes.

View this patent on the USPTO website.