Panelist

Mark Atkinson, PhD

Professor,

The University of Florida

What is your presentation about?
These are exciting times for the potential of stem cells as a therapy for diabetes. This opportunity only comes after two decades of intensive research effort. Here, a panel discussion will take place that reviews one particular challenge facing the field, avoiding deleterious immune responses.

How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
I hope that this session will result in a lively and informative discussion of ideas that will provide guidance as to the best “next steps.”

How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
2024 marked the 40th year in type 1 diabetes research. It has been a pleasure to work with both colleagues, patients, and their family members to see pronounced improvements in disease management. I hope that the topic of this session, stem cells, will see translation into clinical practice.

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Panelist

Haval Shirwan, PhD

Curators’ Distinguished Professor and Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology,

University of Missouri-Columbia

What is your presentation about?
My session focuses on the ongoing challenges and innovations in beta-cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes, particularly comparing encapsulated versus naked cell transplantation. While cadaveric islet transplantation is a clinical reality, the development of stem cell-derived beta-cells offers a promising, renewable alternative. However, immune rejection remains a major hurdle, often requiring chronic immunosuppression with significant side effects. This panel discussion will explore the pros and cons of encapsulation versus naked islets with immunomodulatory regimens as a treatment modality.

How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
By the end of this panel discussion, attendees will have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both naked and encapsulated islet transplantation. They will also learn that the development of effective immunomodulatory approaches may be key to sustained survival of beta-cells without the need for immunosuppression, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients with type 1 diabetes.

How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
My long-term career goals have been to effectively modulate immune responses for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases with immune dysregulation as the driving force. We pioneered the concept of generating novel ligands to define immune pathways and targeted delivery of these molecules for localized immunomodulation with application to cancer, autoimmunity, and transplantation. A novel form of FasL as an apoptotic molecule transiently displayed on the surface of islets or PEG microgels co-transplanted with islets has shown efficacy in sustaining long-term graft survival without chronic immunosuppression in preclinical models. This technology is presently being pursued for clinical translation.

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Panelist

Matthias von Herrath, MD

Scientific Director, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine,

Vice President and Senior Medical Officer, Novo Nordisk, Inc.

What is your presentation about?
Beta-cell replacement therapies are considered a key pathway toward durable insulin independence in long-term type 1 diabetes, but they remain limited by immune rejection and inflammation. In this presentation, I will explore the challenge from an immunologist’s perspective, introducing a strategic framework developed at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) for identifying the “sweet spot” between immune evasion, immune therapy, and encapsulation. Drawing on my experience leading scientific dialogue at DRI, I will highlight how structured collaboration can accelerate the development of immune-protected beta-cell therapies.

How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
I hope to reinforce the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in advancing effective cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes. By sharing insights drawn from integrated models of research and development, I aim to encourage more deliberate prioritization of immune strategies that align innovation with clinical feasibility.

How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
Since 1991, my scientific efforts have been driven by a central question: why does the immune system turn against our own beta-cells? My research has focused on the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, including the roles of viral triggers, immune modulation, and the contribution of dysfunctional beta-cells to their own destruction. It is my enduring goal to contribute meaningfully to the development of both preventive and curative therapies for this disease. Upward and onward!