WELCOME TO DELIVER - DELIVERY OF ADVANCED THERAPIES FOR DIABETES TRAINING NETWORK
The DELIVER programme is a training network based on DELIVERy of advanced therapies for diabetes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
Advanced therapies are new medicinal products based on genes or cells and tissue engineering products (biomaterials), sometimes used in combination with medical devices. They herald revolutionary treatments for a number of chronic diseases affecting society, including the focus of the DELIVER programme, Diabetes Mellitus.
As the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes continues to rise around the world, so does the need for talented, innovative and entrepreneurial industrially-trained researchers. We aim to DELIVER the next cohort of translational research scientists in the field of advanced therapies and enabling medical devices for pancreatic islet transplantation, a cell therapy which is poised to become more widespread for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes.
NEWS
Stay Informed About DELIVER Project - DELIVERy of advanced therapies for diabetes training network
DELIVER’s aim was to enhance the career perspectives and employability of researchers and contribution to their skills development. As the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes continues to rise around the world, so does the need for talented, innovative and entrepreneurial industrially-trained researchers to translate advances in the field of pancreatic islet transplantation to the clinic. The DELIVER industrial doctorate training programme is built on the 7 principles of innovative doctoral training, as outlined by the European Commission. For a time, the unavoidable COVID19 situation had a massive impact in terms of access to research facilities, essential research items and plans for dissemination. However, the ESRs showed incredible resilience and dedication in the face of such adversity. This was an unforeseen risk, which has resulted in teaching the ESRs this resilience, dedication, strength of character and the ability to diversify to reach their goals.
In terms of the impact on Type 1 Diabetes, DELIVER’s technology can potentially meet the end users’ expectation and wishes, offering a therapy that will improve the quality of life of individuals living with diabetes. Through, 1. Stimulation of angiogenesis, 2. Delivery of a macroencapsulation device, 3. Providing oxygen for the cells, 4. Monitoring and mitigating the foreign body response.
The DELIVER device can be tested to deliver islets to replace those lost in T1DM and in turn control the condition in vivo. In the future this may yield a therapy that may remove the requirement for finger pricks and the constant monitoring of blood glucose as well as the subcutaneous administration of insulin. DELIVER is an example of how complementary collaboration between world-renowned experts and long-term dedication to basic research can have a potentially transformative effect on the entire field.
DELIVER has shown the success that comes from working transparently and collaboratively together to lessen the burden of diabetes. This approach is more crucial now than ever before given that the pandemic has further multiplied the complications associated with diabetes. The technologies developed in the programme will be further translated by targeting additional research funding through HEU, particularly the European Innovation Council suite of programmes. We are currently targeting the Transition Challenge 2023 based on technology generated by DELIVER ESRs and this will further potentiate the impact of the DELIVER programme.
OUR TEAM
DELIVER is led by Prof. Garry Duffy (Anatomy, School of Medicine, NUIG)
Early Stage Researchers (ESRs)
Our team of Early Stage Researchers are making important discoveries in our area of focus. While everyone is working in their particular PhD projects, our collaborative Research Program means that we are all working towards a common goal. Read on to find out more.
GIULIA LATTANZI
PhD Student
Giulia Lattanzi is an ESR student who comes from Italy, her background is in Biomedical Engineering. Giulia is working on generating immune tolerance for the therapeutic device produced during this project.
DANIEL DOMINGO LOPEZ
PhD Student
Daniel Domingo Lopez is one of DELIVER's ESRs who hails from Spain. His background is in Chemistry. Daniel is working on a biomaterial which will support the survival of transplanted islets.
LUCIEN SCHREIBER
PhD Student
Lucien Schreiber is a DELIVER ESR. Lucien is from France and carried out his bachelors degree in Biomedical engineering in NUIG, Ireland. Lucien is working on the synthesis of complex proteins which will enable engraftment of implanted devices. Lucien has also developed a bi-directional wireless communication system which could serve as a base for a future implantable system with real-time data and function management to assess the foreign body response.
EIMEAR WALLACE
PhD Student
Eimear Wallace is a DELIVER ESR. Eimear has a background in Science and Regenerative Medicine in NUIG, Ireland. Eimear is working on fabricating a robotic drug delivery device that can be loaded with a novel injectable hydrogel that electrostatically interacts with the protein produced by another DELIVER ESR.
CHUAN-EN LU
PhD Student
Chuan-En Lu is a ESR with DELIVER. Lu is from Taiwan and has a background in Pharmacy and Biochemical Science and Technology. Lu is working on the interplay between the surface of a delivery device for encapsulated pancreatic islets and the immunological response which is essential for implant survival. Lu is studying a non-invasive tracking method to examine the progress of fibrosis and thus the feasibility of the materials used.
ABIRAMY JEYAGARAN
PhD Student
Abiramy Jeyagaran is an ESR with DELIVER. Abi comes from Canada and her background is in Cell and Molecular Biology. Abi's role is to develop a differentiation method to achieve greater differentiation efficiency to obtain a homogenous population of mature beta cells for use in transplantation. She has developed an expression system using a technology that allows control over when essential genes are expressed
OUR RESEARCH
ADVANCED THERAPIES FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES
MARIE CURIE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING NETWORK
EUROPEAN COLLABORATION
CONTACT US
Thank you for your interest in our research. Get in touch with us for any questions or comments regarding our work and publications.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 812865
Human Biology Building, School of Medicine, NUI, Galway, Galway, Ireland
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