Why aren more islet transplants being performed?
The main reason why more islet transplants are not being performed is that there is a limited supply of donor pancreases from which we can procure islets. There are far more people waiting for islet or pancreas transplants than there are available pancreases. It is our hope that an increase in organ donors and continuing progress in xeno (cross-species, e.g. pig cells) and stem cell research will help address this shortage. Another reason why more islet transplants aren’t being performed is that they are currently only available as part of clinical trials, which are complex and expensive. Throughout a clinical trial, there is a great deal of monitoring to ensure that patients who receive islet transplants are not experiencing complications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves and monitors clinical trials, the University of Minnesota’s Institutional Review Board reviews clinical trials to ensure that patients are well-informed as to the risks and benefits of participating in
