NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

Enabling translational research through partnership

MENUMENU
  • About
    • About the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
    • A Guide to What We Do
    • Activities during COVID-19
    • Strategic Partnership Board
    • Steering Committee
    • Promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
    • Current Vacancies
    • Contact Us
    • Stay in Touch
  • Research
        • OUR 20 RESEARCH THEMES

        • Antimicrobial Resistance and Modernising Microbiology
        • Cardiovascular
        • Clinical Informatics and Big Data
        • Diabetes and Metabolism
        • Gastroenterology and Mucosal Immunity
        • Genomic Medicine
        • Haematology and Stem Cells
        • Imaging
        • Molecular Diagnostics
        • Multi-Modal Cancer Therapies
        • Multi-Morbidity and Long-Term Conditions
        • Musculoskeletal
        • Neurological Conditions
        • Obesity, Diet and Lifestyle
        • Partnerships for Health, Wealth and Innovation
        • Respiratory
        • Stroke and Vascular Dementia
        • Surgical Innovation and Evaluation
        • Technology and Digital Health
        • Vaccines for Emerging and Endemic Diseases
        • Oxford Biomedical Research Centre activities during COVID-19
  • Patient & Public Involvement
    • Getting involved with research
    • Researcher Guidance
    • Post an opportunity for patient and public involvement
  • Training Hub
    • Training Hub Overview
    • Clinical Academic Pathway
    • Internships
    • Preparatory Research Fellowships
    • Senior Research Fellowships
    • Research Training Bursaries
    • Doctoral Awards
    • Post-Doctoral Awards
    • Other funding
    • Leadership Training
    • Useful Links
    • Training and Education Resources
    • Upcoming Training Events & Courses
  • Industry
    • Collaborate with Oxford BRC
    • What Can We Do For Your Organisation?
    • Who Do We Work With?
    • IP and Licensing
    • Contacts for Industry
  • Videos
  • News
  • Events
Research Theme

Diabetes and Metabolism

You are here: Home > Research Themes > Diabetes and Metabolism > Sub-Theme: Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplantation

Sub-Theme: Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplantation

Oxford has one of the world’s most active integrated beta-cell replacement programmes, with more than 800 whole pancreas transplants performed over the past 12 years, and islet isolation and islet transplant programmes amongst the most established in Europe. Both clinical services are nationally commissioned and attract patients from around the country, and the Oxford team play a central role in UK service development. The ‘state of the art’ DRWF Human Islet Isolation is one of only a handful in Europe and has been awarded the status of being a JDRF Islet Resource Centre.

All these strengths make Oxford uniquely placed to provide a world-leading translational NIHR research platform to evaluate and develop beta-cell replacement therapies, with the ultimate aim of translating islet replacement to children.

Our sub-theme incorporates a broad range of clinicians and scientists involved in the fields of transplantation, diabetology, nephrology, and paediatrics. It collaborates closely with other BRC Diabetes and Metabolism sub-themes and with the BRC Imaging and Surgical Innovation and Evaluation Themes.

Specific translational research projects within our subtheme include:

  • Testing of a unique Oxford-developed vascularised donor-specific skin graft, to provide early warning of rejection and allow patient self-monitoring. Using longitudinal data we will develop a transplant HOMA calculator.
  • Developing technologies, including macro-encapsulation of islets, to provide protection from allo-immune responses and post-transplant inflammatory and test new scaffolds, including vascularised myocutaneous grafts containing islets engrafted during ex vivo perfusion
  • Conducting a formal health-economic analysis of the effect of both simultaneous pancreas-kidney and islet transplantation
  • Investigating the proteomic profiles of pancreatic digest from different donor pancreases during human islet isolation and correlate this with islet isolation outcomes and post-transplant graft function. This will lead to novel strategies for optimising pancreas and islet preservation
  • Testing GLP-1 treatment and other novel interventions designed to enhance graft function and lifespan. Having previously identified unique genetic markers that predict outcome, we will further develop donor and recipient genetic profiling to improve patient selection, risk stratification, organ utilisation and outcomes
  • Following our successful pilot study of cardiac MR in pancreas transplant patients, showing significant structural abnormalities on SMolli T1-mapping, longitudinal studies will determine the natural history of cardiac changes and the effect of transplantation

Sub-Theme Leaders: Peter Friend and Paul Johnson

  • Peter Friend
    Peter Friend
  • Paul Johnson

Key Researchers: Patrik Rorsman, Fredrik Karpe

Diabetes and Metabolism Theme

  • Introduction
  • Sub-Theme: Translational Physiology, Therapeutics and Medical Innovation
  • Sub-Theme: Translational Islet and Metabolic Tissue Biology
  • Sub-Theme: Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplantation
  • Sub-Theme: Service Innovation and Evaluation
  • Clinical Research Unit / Clinical Investigation Unit
  • Diabetes and Metabolism Core Labs
  • Oxford BioResource
  • Patient involvement with the Diabetes and Metabolism theme
  • Contacts
  • Videos for this theme
  • News for this theme
  • Diabetes & Metabolism Summer Studentship Scheme

Subscribe to the Oxford BRC Newsletter

Keep informed about the work of the Oxford BRC by subscribing to our Mailchimp e-newsletter. It is produced several times a year and delivers news and information about upcoming events straight to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Oxford BRC on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Feedback

We’d love to hear your feedback. Please contact us at obrcenquiries@ouh.nhs.uk

  • Sitemap
  • Data Control and Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Our Partners
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre