The Sanford Project

Research

Regeneration research focuses on triggering the body to re-grow the insulin-producing beta cells that have been killed by the autoimmune response and to prevent destruction of the newly regenerated cells by the same autoimmune reaction.

“Beta cell regeneration is one of the fastest-growing and most intriguing areas of type 1 diabetes research,” stated Ben Perryman, PhD, Sanford Health Vice President of Research. “Through the Sanford Project, our research team will hope to either spur the body to copy existing functioning beta cells or to coax the pancreas to create new ones. When people with the disease have regenerated beta cells, they can begin making their own insulin again. The intent of the Sanford Project will be to focus on bench-side research and closely integrating translational research opportunities with clinical treatment.”

Beta cell regeneration research is an area of scientific inquiry that barely existed just five years ago, yet today is one of the most promising avenues of type 1 diabetes research.  Scientists already know that the body is capable of making new beta cells because they have evidence it does so in two specific situations: when a woman becomes pregnant and when a person becomes obese, their beta cells expand in number to handle the increased metabolic demand. Scientists have also found that even people with longstanding diabetes have some working beta cells, suggesting that the body may continually regenerate beta cells even in the presence of the disease.