At VIC, we aim to develop innovative strategies that harness key components of the immune system to address some of the most pressing challenges in diabetes (Alagpulinsa and Sîrbulescu Labs), neurotrauma, and neurodegenerative disease (Sîrbulescu Lab).
Preclinical studies in multiple model systems have yielded highly promising results. Our team is in continuous active dialog with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding clinical testing of B cell immunotherapies, and in 2019-2020 we completed a first in human clinical study of B cell administration in a person with ALS. We have also initiated pilot preclinical studies with human stem cell- derived islets for type 1 diabetes treatment in non-human primates.
Currently, our main areas of focus are in:
Diabetes
Immunoprotection and regeneration of endogenous pancreatic beta cells
Human stem Cell-derived islet transplantation without systemic immune-suppression for type 1 diabetes
B cell immunotherapy for accelerating the healing of chronic wounds in diabetes
Neurological Disorders
B cell immunotherapy for neutoprotection in traumatic brain Preclinical studies in multiple model systems have yielded highly promising results.
Immunomodulatory B cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Cell therapies for neuroprotection in hemorrhagic stroke.
Am J Transplant. 2019 Feb 12. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15308. PMID:30748094 Alagpulinsa DA, Cao JJL, Driscoll K, Sirbulescu RF, Penson MFE, Sremac M, Engquist EN, Brauns T, Markmann JF, Melton DA and Poznansky MC.