This group is exploring strategies designed to optimize islet cell transplants and to improve the safety and availability of islet cell transplantation without long term anti-rejection therapy. In 1989, a group at the University of Alberta performed Canada's first islet cell transplant in Type 1 Diabetic patients requiring a kidney transplant.

Early success did not provide long-term freedom from insulin. However, in 1999, Drs. Shapiro and Lakey performed an islet cell transplant on patients that did not need other organ transplants (such as a kidney) but who had severe problems with diabetes. The protocol introduced a unique steroid-free anti-rejection drug combination together with a sufficient islet cell engraftment mass.

The patient was able to maintain a steady glucose count and over the next year, six more patients underwent what became known as the Edmonton Protocol. Results from this early series of transplants have been very promising with all patients being free of insulin following the transplant procedure. The Edmonton Protocol is the most successful and widely replicated islet cell transplantation method in the world. Drs. Shapiro, Lakey and their colleagues are also trying to maximize the yield of islets from a single donated pancreas because of the lack of donated pancreases.

The Edmonton Protocol is now the focus of major international trials and the positive outcomes have been reproduced at other research centers. For more information on the Edmonton Islet Transplant Program, please visit:

James Shapiro, MD, Ph.D, FRCS
Dr. James Shapiro, MD, Ph.D, FRCS in Clinical Research Chair in Transplantation and Director of the Clinical Islet Transplant Program

Jonathan Lakey, Ph.D.
Dr. Jonathan Lakey, Ph.D is Director of the Human Islet Isolation Laboratory. He brings years of expertise in islet cell biology to his work and is instrumental in improving the viability and functioning of isolated islet cells.