The Clinical Path Forward: How Hospitals Are Preparing for Manufactured Islet Cell Therapies

Islet cell therapies represent a different approach to treating Type 1 diabetes. Rather than managing blood sugar through insulin injections or pumps, these therapies aim to replace the beta cells—the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas—that the immune system destroys in Type 1 diabetes. By transplanting functional cells, the body may be able to produce its own insulin again.

What makes manufactured islet cells different from traditional transplant approaches is their source. Instead of relying on donated organs, these cells are created in laboratories. This manufacturing process means that therapies can be produced in large quantities while maintaining consistent, high quality control standards. In theory, this scalability could eventually make these treatments available to many more people with Type 1 diabetes.

Developing a new therapy is only part of the challenge. Before these manufactured cell therapies reach patients, the medical community needs to be trained and ready to deliver them safely and effectively. That's where Centers of Reference come in.

Centers of Reference are specialized diabetes care centers staffed by multidisciplinary expert teams—doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other specialists with deep knowledge of islet cell transplantation. These centers are working to prepare the global healthcare infrastructure for the arrival of manufactured islet cell therapies. Many of these institutions already perform islet cell transplants on a smaller scale, giving them hands-on experience with the procedures and patient care involved.

In May 2026, Breakthrough T1D brought together international medical experts at their headquarters for the second annual Centers of Reference meeting. Led by Chief Medical Officer Thomas Danne, M.D., Ph.D., and a team of Medical Affairs directors, the gathering brought together leading minds in Type 1 diabetes care from around the world.

The goal of these meetings is to ensure that when manufactured islet cell therapies gain regulatory approval, expert clinical teams will be ready to integrate them into their institutions and train other hospitals to do the same. By establishing this coordinated network now, the diabetes care community is working to avoid bottlenecks and ensure that therapies can be delivered broadly, not just at a handful of centers.

The work of the Centers of Reference is ongoing. As these therapies continue advancing through the drug development pipeline, the network will continue expanding and refining protocols for administration, patient selection, follow-up care, and training. The second annual meeting marked a step forward in this preparation, with plans already underway for future gatherings to continue this critical work.

While these therapies are not yet available to patients, the proactive coordination happening now between international medical centers and diabetes organizations is a significant sign that the healthcare system is working to be ready when they arrive.

Origin: breakthrought1d.org (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.