Scott King (left) and Dr. Jonathan Lakey (right)
11 July 2012: Dr. Jonathan Lakey is the Director of Research and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, and Director of the Clinical Islet Program there. His primary research direction has been cell and tissue transplantation, with a focus on diabetes and islet transplantation. I met him in April of this year and was completely taken by his gregarious nature and dedication.
Let’s call it what it was when I walked into Dr. Lakey’s lab – my first time. Yes, I had never been to a real lab working on curing diabetes. I was lab ignorant. It now occurs to me that every person consumed by a HUGE desire to put an end to type 1 diabetes should visit an academic lab.
Now that I have been inducted it’s clear that it is not just hard, but it’s also relentless work. For the first time I understand what selfless commitment most medical researchers have for their profession. It’s quiet and intense and requires supreme intelligence. I believe most people aren’t cut out for medical research. It takes an exceptional person.
Jonathan Lakey is one of those remarkable people.
Graduating from the University of Alberta, he established his research program at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and partnered with Dr. James Shapiro – this collaboration led to improved islet isolation techniques and the development of the “Edmonton Protocol,” a recognized major advance in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
An islet processor which purifies islets from tissue
Dr. Lakey, who often lectures and speaks on issues related to islet transplantation, and regulatory standards for cell and tissue transplantation, has been widely published and received numerous honors, including the UC Discovery Award. His team has successfully trained over 40 islet transplant centers worldwide in replicating the Edmonton Protocol. Today he is also leading the research team for the Islet Sheet Project, also called the bio-artificial pancreas.
Jonathan was kind enough to allow me to ask some pretty obvious questions about the intensity of his work…
1. What led you to research for diabetes cure? Was it linear? Or caused by fate?
As an undergraduate I was exposed to some research that intrigued me and was able to start as a summer student, which led to another summer experience in research and after that I was hooked on research and exploring a way to cure diabetes.
2. What have you learned about the people who live with type 1 diabetes? It can be good, bad or neutral – just anything that comes to the top of your mind.
One thing I learned very early on is that families with diabetes are very educated and committed to learn everything they can about diabetes. After every lecture or presentation, families will probe me about articles they read on the Internet or learned from a meeting. This is in addition to the emails I receive each week. These types of interactions motivate me.
3. Why do you think the cure for type 1 has been a long and winding road?
Yes, the road to a cure for those with Type 1 diabetes has been a long and winding one. There are many research laboratories working towards the same goal, just going down different paths. Someone will get there, hopefully soon.
A Pig Pancreas in the lab
4. I attended a TED conference the other day and one of the speakers said that Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) will NOT save the world or cure all the evils. What do you think? I dream that nanotechnology will supply the answer and that one day I will be injected with a serum that contains little robotic cells that do the work of insulin for my pancreatic challenged body – what do you think? Is technology the answer?
The long-term solution will involve both stem cell and bioengineering solutions* to diabetes. Until then we need to prove the technology of islet transplantation using primary islets and an engineered device.
5. Your commitment to research is formidable as well as uncanny, maybe even mysterious. What keeps you motivated and encouraged? What is the greatest thrill in the lab? Do you ever have days when you say, “That’s it! I am done with this work.” What brings you back to the lab?
I am focused and motivated to a cure, not a treatment but an actual cure that will help those with diabetes. My interactions with families with diabetes and my own stubbornness keep me going. I love the opportunities that my career has brought me—each day is different.
I don’t get to be in the lab as much as I would like, but when I do, I enjoy the time. My time now is mostly spent performing administration tasks and writing grants. I am trying to spend more time in the lab, especially with the islet sheet project.
6. Last week, researchers at British Columbia University (UBC) cured diabetes in Mice with stem cells – any thoughts about this news?
The work by UBC research is another good advance. Key will be the duplication in other labs and determining the next steps to keep this work moving forward into large animals and into patients with diabetes.
7. Why do you believe the islet sheet will work and can you give an update?
The work with islet sheet is finally getting to the stage where we will be initiating a large animal transplant study. The results will allow us to determine the efficacy of the islets in the device and will let us advance to clinical trials. It is exciting to think that we can protect the islets in the device and not have to put the patients on chronic immuno-suppressants.
*The use of artificial tissues, organs, or organ components to replace damaged or absent parts of the body.
