UCSF Islet Transplantation Program is Recognized for its Success in Islet Isolation

When Greg Szot arrived at UCSF nearly a decade ago from the University of Chicago, he was on a mission to accelerate the field of pancreatic islet transplantation to assist those living with type 1 diabetes. Not only was he successful in helping to establish one of the first, fully certified, state-of-the-art human islet and cellular transplantation facilities to isolate islets for transplantation, Greg significantly improved the islet isolation procedure at a time when the process was forced to change.  For these achievements, the American Diabetes Association recently recognized Greg with a Scientific Achievement Award. Thanks in part to Greg’s efforts, UCSF transplant surgeons are currently involved in three islet transplantation studies and are actively seeking patients. Through the international Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) Consortium, the transplant team is seeking two sets of patients: those who have had no transplantation of any kind (EXCEPT for a previous failed pancreas transplant); and a study focusing on type 1 diabetes patients who have received a kidney transplant and have stable renal function. In addition, the team is conducting a single-center JDRF trial using an immunosuppressive agent, Belatacept, that does not have the side effects of traditional anti-rejection drugs. If you or a loved one have type 1 diabetes and have experienced poor glucose control despite intensive insulin therapy, please contact the transplant office to learn more about these studies: 415-353-8893; islettransplant@ucsfmedctr.org