Mohamed bin Zayed offers a grant to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, presented a grant to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute to support and develop research related to gene editing for the treatment of type 1 diabetes “through the replacement of beta cells in the pancreas.”
The support provided to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute comes within the framework of the "Reaching the Last Mile Initiative", which is based on strengthening relations with the concerned parties in order to achieve effective and sustainable change. The initiative derives its impetus from the belief in the importance of building a future that ensures stability and enhances human dignity and includes all.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's initiative to support global health projects "Reaching the Last Mile" works to combat diseases and strengthen health systems, in addition to supporting the development of innovative research and technology to encourage progress in eliminating diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, with the disease causing about 1.6 million direct deaths annually, and the past decades have witnessed a steady increase in the number of infections and the extent of diabetes.
His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, said: The United Arab Emirates is keen to strengthen cooperation and concerted efforts to support global health. This support represents the Harvard Stem Cell Institute an opportunity to join its mission to achieve a major achievement in the field of combating Type 1 diabetes patients.
His Highness stressed that the UAE realizes the importance of innovation in finding new solutions to pressing issues, as part of its commitment to support global health issues and improve the lives of people around the world.
The promising results we have seen in stem cell-derived islet cell research hold the potential for a life-changing treatment for people with a burden of disease, said Dr. Douglas Melton, who holds the Zander Chair in Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Type 1 diabetes for a lifetime.. Thanks to the long-term efforts of the students and our team at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, we were able to achieve these results to convert human pluripotent stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells, thus producing an inexhaustible supply of transplantable cells.
He added, "The biotechnology industry has made great progress in this field in order to manufacture cells and test the results in clinical trials, and the first results announced recently were very promising. The next challenge that we face now is to protect the transplanted beta cells from the rejection of the recipient's immune system." If our strategies succeed, beta-cell therapy will become the standard treatment for patients with diabetes in the future.
The partnership also provides the opportunity for two Emirati researchers to join the Douglas Melton Laboratory to contribute to research and work to develop an innovative treatment for type 1 diabetes.
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The Executive Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, said that the opportunity for two nationals to join the Milton Laboratory as research fellows will contribute to achieving a tremendous cultural and scientific enrichment for all participants.. This cooperation also provides a valuable opportunity for colleagues participating in this research from As they gain experience, science and knowledge through their work in the laboratory under the supervision of a distinguished scientific researcher.. We look forward to nominating the best cadres from our talented scientific team, and we hope that their participation will contribute to accelerating research and finding an effective treatment for type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin-producing beta cells, which are destroyed by the immune system by still unknown mechanisms. Although patients can live with diabetes, there is currently no cure for it and the grant from His Highness will support the main project The first is to manufacture beta cells capable of evading immune attack.. Later, the project includes identifying the immune cells responsible for rejecting beta cells derived from transplanted stem cells, which will allow identification of immune cells that initiate and continue the immune attack and find a mechanism to eliminate them.. It also includes The project is to develop stem cell models similar to those found inside pockets in the pancreas called “islands” to be transplanted into humans. This ambitious program will allow the discarded islet cells to continue and work for years after being transplanted into diabetic patients, which will contribute to their treatment of the disease.
The research program is chaired by the JDRF Charitable Organization - JDRF, a leading global organization that funds type 1 diabetes research, which launched in 2021 the JDRF Center of Excellence in the New England Territory, USA, an institutional collaboration between leading experts In Massachusetts.
In collaboration with strategic partners around the world, JDRF works to accelerate research through initiatives that stimulate collaboration and innovation, harness resources, and engage emerging talent. Joint Centers of Excellence advance these efforts, and form a core focus of JDRF's overall strategy. RF" in finding an effective treatment for type 1 diabetes.
“Beta-cell replacement therapy is at the forefront of possible treatments for type 1 diabetes and the leading JDRF program,” said Esther Letters, associate vice president of research at the JDRF.
Latzer appreciated the support provided by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for scientific research. She said: We welcome new colleagues in the field of research and look forward to developing advanced strategies to protect highly functional insulin-producing cells from immune rejection.
It is noteworthy that on the occasion of the announcement of this cooperation, a virtual symposium will be held today, highlighting the ongoing efforts supported by the grant and the importance of research fellowships in the scientific system. Dr. Milton will participate in the symposium, along with representatives from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center.
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