Pavlos
12-18-2007, 01:08 PM
Guys sorry ih this is old hat for you, but I am a newbie with D (my daughter was dxed T1 a month ago) so I am very excitied with any news that appears to be promising!
Apparently Denise Faustman is about to attempt to replicate her "cure" of lab mice with humans within 2008 :)
Her approach centers on the idea that one should address the root of the problem, i.e., the T-cells that have gone wacko. Her research to date suggests that once these cells are eliminated, the pancreas has a tendency to regenerate itself. This flies in the face of most other research, which seeks to replenish the b-cells (eg. via islet transplants) in conjunction with immunosuppressive drugs.
J. Hirsch provides some intriguing behind-the-scenes info in his book "Cheating Destinty", which I just read (non-stop): apparently Faustman's approach is based on an inexpensive and generic drug, and does not entail the use of expensive machines / pumps / etc - hence the pharmaceutical establishment has not supported or funded her. What is even more disturbing is that according to Hirsch some leading members of JDRF have also not been supportive of Faustman's research, for reasons that Hirsch speculates may include personal bitterness from competing researchers :(
In any case, I wish Faustman, the JDRF, and any other bright mind out there working on a cure the best of luick from the bottom of my heart :)
Recent by Faustman: http://www.iacoccafoundation.org/PDFs/Faustman%20Newsletter%20Summer%202007.pdf
Her website: http://www.faustmanlab.org/
Apparently Denise Faustman is about to attempt to replicate her "cure" of lab mice with humans within 2008 :)
Her approach centers on the idea that one should address the root of the problem, i.e., the T-cells that have gone wacko. Her research to date suggests that once these cells are eliminated, the pancreas has a tendency to regenerate itself. This flies in the face of most other research, which seeks to replenish the b-cells (eg. via islet transplants) in conjunction with immunosuppressive drugs.
J. Hirsch provides some intriguing behind-the-scenes info in his book "Cheating Destinty", which I just read (non-stop): apparently Faustman's approach is based on an inexpensive and generic drug, and does not entail the use of expensive machines / pumps / etc - hence the pharmaceutical establishment has not supported or funded her. What is even more disturbing is that according to Hirsch some leading members of JDRF have also not been supportive of Faustman's research, for reasons that Hirsch speculates may include personal bitterness from competing researchers :(
In any case, I wish Faustman, the JDRF, and any other bright mind out there working on a cure the best of luick from the bottom of my heart :)
Recent by Faustman: http://www.iacoccafoundation.org/PDFs/Faustman%20Newsletter%20Summer%202007.pdf
Her website: http://www.faustmanlab.org/