EM/ProfAnn Simpson

Specifically, Prof. Simpson research is concerned with investigating the possibility of engineering an liver cells to replace the beta cells that have been destroyed by the autoimmune process in Type I diabetics.

The group is approaching this problem from 2 main directions:

1. The use of human liver cell lines that store and secrete insulin to glucose, which could be used to correct diabetes via transplantation of the encapsulated cells into patients, and

2. Direct delivery of the insulin gene and other components directly to the liver of patients to induce them to store mature insulin and secrete it in a physiological manner.

Recently the group has engineered a liver cell line derived that secretes insulin in the physiological range: Melligen cells. Her research with Dr. Binhai Ren and Dr. Bronwyn O'Brien has also led to reversal of diabetes in streptozotocin-diabetic immunocompetant rats and NOD mice by the direct delivery of the insulin gene directly through the portal circulation of the animal.

The animals have maintained normo-glycaemia for over 500 days with normal glucose tolerance and liver function tests. The group is moving to large animal studies.