Banting and Best
In the 1920’s, two University of Toronto researchers, Banting and Best, made the discovery of insulin which became one of the most revolutionary moments in medicine.
Two months ago, Canadian researchers published another revolutionary finding which will open the door to a potential near-cure of diabetes that affects millions of people around the world. For the first time, they have found a strong link between diabetes, pain nerves, and inflammation.
“In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, Canadian researchers say they have proof the body’s nervous system helps trigger diabetes type I. Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a neuropeptide to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Dr. Michael Salter, a University of Toronto neuroscientist at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the team leaders. “Mice with diabetes suddenly didn’t have diabetes any more.”
The team was able to prevent and even reverse diabetes by modulating the neuroinflammatory mechanism without any serious side effects. This mechanism will be further investigated as a possible cause to other autoimmune diseases and may well lead to new treatments and diagnoses for other neuropathic diseases.
Further reading:
- Canadian team cracks type I diabetes code – National Review of Medicine, January 15, 2007.
- Canadian scientists reverse diabetes in mice – CBC, December 15, 2006
- TRPV1+ Sensory Neurons Control β Cell Stress and Islet Inflammation in Autoimmune Diabetes – Cell, December 15, 2006
- If you like history, check out Banting’s original desk in the hallway of the MaRS corporate offices.
Lincoln Kim is a member of the healthcare and life sciences team of the MaRS Venture Group. He evaluates and supports the development of technology platforms and commercial market opportunities of start up and emerging companies, facilitates collaboration among research groups and between research scientists and industry.
