In 1999 the Penn-JDRF Center
for Islet Transplantation was established by Dr. Naji at the University
of Pennsylvania. Dr. Naji and his group performed their first islet
transplantation in a human in September 2001.
Dr. Naji along with a multi-disciplinary
team of surgeons, endocrinologist, immunologist, radiologist primary
research focus is on islets, their isolation, preparation, functional
evaluation, and imaging in the context of ongoing clinical trials.
Another important step, was the employment of Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) to image islets, enabling researchers to monitor
islet function and examine other immune and metabolic markers after
transplantation.
Ali Naji,
MD, and his team have extended their focus on the role of B
lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of T1D and organ transplant rejection.
His group was one of the first to demonstrate the requisite role
of B lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of islet inflammation. His
large animal islet transplantation studies have demonstrated the
efficacy of B lymphocyte targeting for the induction of long-term
islet allograft tolerance in diabetic non-human primates. His team
plans to determine the clinical efficacy of B lymphocyte directed
immunotherapy as part of a cooperative NIH sponsored islet transplantation
consortium.
For more information or if you are interested
in participating in the trial please call 215-662-4449. |
