Vascularization of Beta-Cell Grafts Improves Survival and Function

Antonio Citro, PhD

Project Leader,
IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

What is your presentation about?
I will give an overview of the current limitations of islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes, focusing on how insufficient vascularization impacts graft survival and function. Specifically, I will explain how pre-vascularization strategies can improve beta-cell survival and function, and I will present our bioengineering approaches to pre-vascularize implantable biological devices to support the rapid re-vascularization of beta-cell grafts.

How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
Most of the studies I will discuss are still in the preclinical testing phase, and their safety and efficacy in clinical settings remain to be demonstrated. The potential of these vascularization-based strategies is to enhance beta-cell survival, function, and engraftment efficiency. By improving the integration and performance of transplanted cells, these approaches may significantly reduce the beta-cell mass required to achieve therapeutic benefit, ultimately making cell replacement therapies more feasible and accessible for a larger number of patients with type 1 diabetes.

How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
After obtaining my PhD in Experimental Surgery and Microsurgery in Pavia (Italy), I completed my postdoctoral training in organ engineering with Dr. Harald Ott at Massachusetts General Hospital. During this time, I began working on generating scaffolds from decellularized organs to improve beta-cell replacement therapies, in collaboration with the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) in Milan, Italy. This strategic collaboration led to the development of the first prototype of the Vascularized Islet Organ—a significant step forward in improving beta-cell transplantation outcomes. My current research focuses on advancing bioengineering strategies to enhance graft survival, function, and clinical applicability, with particular emphasis on vascularization and immunomodulation. As the head of the Pancras Bioengineering Lab at the Diabetes Research Institute of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, I am actively involved in several national and international research initiatives and am deeply committed to advancing type 1 diabetes research to develop innovative, patient-centered solutions.