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Islet Transplant Program Center

Islet TransplantThe Emory Transplant Center in Atlanta, Georgia is one of just a handful of institutions around the world investigating islet transplantation as a type 1 diabetes treatment.

Islet transplantation in the United States, and at Emory University, is still in the research stage. Because recipients of islet transplants must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection, at present islet transplantation is only considered in patients with brittle type 1 diabetes.

What Is Islet Transplantation?

The "Islets of Langerhans" or "islets" are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is released by the islets in response to glucose levels in the blood. Insulin allows the body to use the glucose to produce energy. People with type 1 diabetes have lost the ability to produce insulin. They must take insulin injections several times a day to control their glucose levels in order to stay alive.

The islet cell transplant process begins when a pancreas from an organ donor becomes available. The islets from the pancreas are separated from other cells through a highly complex process called "islet isolation." The islets are then infused into the liver of the recipient. Recent advances in islet isolation have resulted in sustained insulin independence in people with type 1 diabetes, perhaps making islet transplantation more common in the foreseeable future.

The Emory Islet Transplant Program has performed clinical trials using the Edmonton Protocol (developed by researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada) with promising success. Much has been learned, and today islet transplantation continues to bring hope to patients with diabetes and their doctors.

Islet Transplant Program Highlights

GA's Only Islet Transplant Program

Emory is currently the only islet cell transplant program in Georgia. The first islet transplant was performed at Emory on March 20, 2003. As of August 2010, Emory transplant surgeons have performed 22 successful islet transplant procedures on 15 patients.

Forefront of Research

The islet transplant program at Emory received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Emory's Institutional Review Board (IRB) in January 2003, and is currently accepting patients in three islet transplant protocols.

Research & Clinical Trials

Research & Clinical Trials

The Emory Transplant Center has earned a reputation of clinical excellence and advanced research. The Center’s research funding continues to grow and research dollars received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have nearly tripled over the last six years.

Read more.

Islet Transplant History

Additional Resources

Emory’s islet transplant program has performed clinical trials using the Edmonton Protocol, the turning point in islet transplantation. Learn about the history of islet transplantation and the success of the Edmonton Protocol.

Learn more

Emory Transplant Center

MAKE A GIFT

By making a gift, you are making an immediate difference in the lives of transplant patients and their families.

You can make a gift online or if you prefer you may e-mail Todd Randolph or call him at 404-778-4632.