Statement of Purpose

Problem:(2-4)
Type 1 diabetes is a problem located within the pancreas where the pancreas cannot
produce insulin to provide cells with glucose. The bodys immune system attacks the
beta cells in the pancreas which produce this insulin.
Previous attempted solutions:(2-4)
Currently there is no permanent cure for diabetes. To counteract the effects of type 1
diabetes the patient receives insulin through injection. This process is done up to 4
times a day in order to counteract the effects. The insulin is produced in bacteria, the
bacteria is injected with DNA ordering the cell to produce insulin. The insulin can then
be collected from the bacteria and administered to the patient. The insulin had no risk of
rejection by the body and the immune system will not attack it.
Current limitations/present need:(2-3)
Currently people have tried to add new beta cells to the pancreas by putting in stem
cells into the pancreas. One of the problems with this is that the bodys immune system
will again attack these new beta cells rendering them useless within a year. Possible
solutions have been to create a shield around the cells that has holes in it. These holes
are small enough to let blood cells and insulin pass through but not T cells of the
immune system.
Proposed Solution/product:(2-5)
Our proposed solution is to create new beta cells in the patient. Or even create a new
pancreas from the patient's own cells so that it has no risk of rejection. The Beta cells
could be placed into the patient's pancreas where there are no more beta cells. This has
not been tested before but if it was created from the patient's own stem cells there
should be no rejection or autoimmune reaction against it.
Citations:(5 sources)
Virtual mentor credentials:

Dr. George Liang King

Email:
Hi Dr. King,

We are in a S.T.E.M. class in Novato California and were assigned a project involving
researching and designing a possible solution to cure a disease. We have chosen Type 1
Diabetes, and discovered your email and that you work at a diabetes research center.
As far as we know, Type 1 Diabetes is a genetic and chronic disease with damaged pancreas
cells that cannot produce insulin. Our proposed solution is to create new beta cells in the
patient. Or even create a new pancreas from the patient's own cells so that it has no risk of
rejection.
We wanted to ask for some advice involving how to go about researching and possible
directions to go with our ideas. How would we go about finding a cure? Are there already
existing theories to cure Type 1 Diabetes that you could tell us about? Are there any current
limitations when coming up with a cure for diabetes? Any help would be amazing!
Thank you,
Francesca F. Mancillas
STEM San Marin