Type 1 diabetes develops when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, a hormone made by specialized beta cells. This chronic condition affects an estimated 9.5 million people around the world. Without sufficient insulin, blood sugar levels remain high and, over time, can cause serious harm to vital organs including the kidneys, eyes, and heart. Managing the disease requires continuous monitoring of glucose levels along with regular insulin injections to keep those levels within a healthy range.

Scientists are exploring new ways to treat Type 1 diabetes by restoring or replacing the damaged pancreatic beta cells. One promising strategy involves generating new beta cells from other types of cells already present in the body. This approach was taken by researchers led by Xiaofeng Huang at Weill Cornell Medicine (USA) and Qing Xia at Peking University (China), who previously found that stomach cells in mice could be reprogrammed into pancreatic beta cells through genetic modification.

Transforming Stomach Cells Into Insulin Producers
In their new study published today (November 6) in Stem Cell Reports, the team investigated whether a similar transformation could occur in human stomach cells. To begin, they grew miniature models of the human stomach called organoids, which mimic some functions of real stomach tissue.

These organoids were then genetically modified so they could be switched into insulin-producing beta-like cells when a specific “genetic switch” was activated. Afterward, the engineered organoids were transplanted into the abdominal area of mice. There, they survived for up to six months, forming connections with nearby tissues and blood vessels as they matured.