# Efficacy assessment of intraocular islet transplant in nonhuman primates

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $307,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Clinical trials have shown that intrahepatic islet transplant in patients with brittle type 1 diabetes (T1D)
improves their quality-of-life significantly. This is achieved through improvement in glycemic control, restoration
of severe hypoglycemia awareness, and prevention of diabetes-associated morbidities. However, it has also
become evident that the longevity of the intrahepatic islet graft is limited by liver-specific complications, such as
IBMIR (Instant Blood Mediated Inflammatory Reaction), hypoxia, and drug toxicity. Consequently, several new
sites for islet transplant are being evaluated in clinical trials including the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE;
see ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02846571). Our extensive preclinical studies have shown that the ACE is a viable
site for islet transplantation with several technical advantages that can be exploited to promote graft longevity.
We recently demonstrated in the baboon long-term survival of islet allografts in the ACE long after stopping
immunosuppression. Building on our prior work, the primary objective of the current project is, therefore, to
evaluate whether complete independence from exogenous insulin therapy can be achieved following
intraocular islet transplant alone or with a follow-up second transplant in the periphery in same diabetic
recipient baboons that have been tolerized through initial islet transplant in the ACE. The successful
implementation of this proposed research will further support the clinical transition/application of intraocular
islet transplant as an effective and sustainable therapy of T1D.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10105428
- **Project number:** 1R21AI156131-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Midhat H Abdulreda
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $307,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-19 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10105428

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10105428, Efficacy assessment of intraocular islet transplant in nonhuman primates (1R21AI156131-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10105428. Licensed CC0.

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