Technion's New Implant Offers Potential Breakthrough in Diabetes Treatment
A new implant developed by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, in collaboration with MIT, Harvard, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Massachusetts, may revolutionize diabetes treatment. The study, led by Assistant Professor Shady Farah, introduces a 'living, cell-based implant' that functions as an artificial pancreas. This implant is designed to continuously monitor blood-glucose levels and produce insulin as needed, eliminating the need for external pumps or injections. A significant advancement in this research is the development of a crystalline shield that protects the implant from immune system rejection, allowing it to function reliably for several years. This technology, initially conceptualized in 2018, is still under research and has been tested on mice and non-human primates, marking a critical milestone towards human trials.