Artificial pancreas?
Giving impetus to the vast canvas of scientific cell research are giant leaps in technological innovation. The University of Miami’s Diabetes Research Institute recently conducted a promising experiment into the development of the world’s first artificial pancreas implant. The team developed the BioHub, a small, pancreas-mimicking “organ” made of a clear silicone compound that resembles a nest. Carrying transplanted islet cells that contain beta cells, the nest was implanted into a Type 1 diabetes patient’s omentum — a fatty membrane in the stomach. One year later, the patient has not needed any insulin injections or pumps.