Australian scientist and kiwi pigs research diabetes

Australian scientists intend working with New Zealand pigs to test a radical new treatment for patients with type one diabetes. The trans-Tasman research involving using pig cells for human treatment is a practice at present banned in Australia.

Scientific adviser Dr John Court says he hopes New Zealand pigs can transform the lives of patients with type one diabetes. “If it is shown to work and be safe it will lead the way to using this on a large number of patients,” he said.

The pigs are bred free of disease and germs, before scientists extract insulin producing cells from their pancreas. Dr Court said the cells were then placed in tiny capsules and injected into the abdomen of a patient .”The capsules allow the insulin to escape into the body. The immune cells can’t attack the patients. They are protected.”

Dr.Court said that the big plus was that patients did not need to take drugs to suppress their immune system which could have serious side effects.

Professor Bernie Tuch from the University of New South Wales said the New Zealand-based research could drive a change in the Australian law. “If it works appropriately Australia will presumably reconsider where they are currently with a view to possibly allowing it,” he said.Australian scientists intend working with New Zealand pigs to test a radical new treatment for patients with type one diabetes. The trans-Tasman research involving using pig cells for human treatment is a practice at present banned in Australia.

Scientific adviser Dr John Court says he hopes New Zealand pigs can transform the lives of patients with type one diabetes. “If it is shown to work and be safe it will lead the way to using this on a large number of patients,” he said.

The pigs are bred free of disease and germs, before scientists extract insulin producing cells from their pancreas. Dr Court said the cells were then placed in tiny capsules and injected into the abdomen of a patient .”The capsules allow the insulin to escape into the body. The immune cells can’t attack the patients. They are protected.”

Dr.Court said that the big plus was that patients did not need to take drugs to suppress their immune system which could have serious side effects.

Professor Bernie Tuch from the University of New South Wales said the New Zealand-based research could drive a change in the Australian law. “If it works appropriately Australia will presumably reconsider where they are currently with a view to possibly allowing it,” he said.