Type: stem_cell
Status: Published Case Study
Developer: Peking University / Tianjin First Central Hospital
Another major milestone from China: A 25-year-old woman with Type 1 diabetes has remained insulin-free for over a year following a transplant of chemically induced pluripotent stem-cell derived islets. Unlike previous attempts, this procedure injected the cells into the abdominal muscle rather than the liver, making it safer and easier to monitor (and remove if necessary).
Using small molecules, the team reprogrammed the patient's own adipose (fat) cells into stem cells and then into islet clusters. These were implanted into the rectus abdominis muscle sheath. The accessible location allowed MRI monitoring of the graft, which successfully vascularized and normalized her blood sugar levels completely.
Year: 2025