ISCT 2021 | The future of cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes

Ekaterine Berishvili, MD, PhD, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, discusses the current landscape of cell-based therapies for type I diabetes (T1D) and the future directions of the field. Currently, the most widely used cell-based therapy for T1D is islet transplantation, however, Dr Berishvili indicates that the requirement for several cell donors and lifelong immunosuppression calls for alternative cell-based therapies. She describes new avenues under investigation including the transplantation of stem cell-derived β cells to patients with T1D, as well as promise around the generation of the bioartificial endocrine pancreas and its curative potential. This interview took place during the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting 2021.