Conversations That Matter - Ep 70 - Dr. Kevin D'Amour - Promising Stemcell Diabetes Treatment

Episode 70

Dr. Kevin D’Amour

Promising Stem Cell Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes

Conversations That Matter features Dr. Kevin D’Amour who is leading a San Diego based research team that has FDA approval to develop a stem cell treatment for Type 1 Diabetes. The promise lies in the delivery of, “a stem cell that has great proliferative power to make many cells, and to treat many patients.”

D’Amour points out that the proliferative power of the cell needs to be harnessed to produce islet cells, “We call that differentiation, or the process of differentiation, where the immature cells become more mature cells”.

To date ten patients have been implanted with the device, “it is encouraging. No one has ever done anything quite like this before.” Phase Two is set to start in 2016.  

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

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