EYELETS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pancreatic islet transplantation to the anterior chamber of the eye
IRAS ID
253556
Contact name
Cheuk Fung Wong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Replacement of the insulin-producing beta cells through pancreatic islet transplantation has emerged as a promising therapy for Type 1 diabete(T1D). Successful pancreatic islet transplantation reduces the risk to people with Type 1 diabetes of life-threatening hypoglycaemia and psychosocially debilitating glycaemic lability. While the long-term durability of these responses is at present uncertain, they persist for as long as some graft function is maintained, despite the eventual return to insulin therapy in the majority of islet transplant recipients in clinical trials of islet transplant in into the hepatic portal system.
This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of islet transplantation in an alternative site, the anterior chamber of the eye, which is less invasive and may prove superior in conveying better function. The anterior chamber of the eye has unique immunological properties which may protect the transplanted islet from immune rejection.
Due to the well-known side effects and risks involved with immunosuppression medication required for islet cell transplantation the benefit from the new proposed procedure must out-weigh the risks. The benefit from the proposed treatment is unknown and therefore we have chosen participants with Type 1 diabetes that are already treated with immunosuppression not to lay this additional burden upon them.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0040
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion