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.