Research Islet Provision
The DRWF Human Islet Isolation Facility has been awarded the status of being a JDRF Islet Resource Centre. This involves the distribution of high-quality research islets to islet research centres throughout the UK and beyond. Research islets can become available via two main pathways; the reallocation of clinical grade islets for research use, or the isolation of islets from pancreases specifically allocated for research. Islets are usually reallocated from clinical to research use if they do not meet the strict release criteria for transplantation. This is normally because the number of islets isolated is too few to meet the recipients requirements. If the correct written consent for research is in place, then these islets can be reallocated for ethically approved research projects. In addition, isolating islets from pancreases specifically offered for research use ensures that we have a constant supply of good quality human research islets to distribute. Last year alone (2019) we shipped over 1 million islets to our recipient centres!
How are research islets allocated?
Human islets are in high demand. To ensure a fair an equitable distribution of islets we allocate the cells to research centres based on an in-house created allocation algorithm. The algorithm integrates the amount of time that a centre has been waiting for islets, with the specific islet characteristics that are required by the centre. For example, centres are able to comment of the minimum viability, purity and number of islets that are required for their experiments. The algorithm calculates the centre(s) that will be offered the preparation based on these criteria. The use of a distribution algorithm ensures that islets are adequately matched to end user requirements, whilst ensuing that allocation is objective, fair, and effective. It is also possible for researchers to express interest in islets from specific donor demographics (i.e. donors within a specific age or BMI range).
Who do we ship islets to?
We ship our human islets to a range of research centres throughout the UK. We also service centres in mainland Europe. Transit can range from 2 to 36 hours depending on the end users location. We have received a 95% positive feedback rating from our centres over the last 2 years, which reflects our commitment to provide our centres with high quality islets for their experiments.
Interested in receiving human islets for research?
We welcome new enquiries from researchers wishing to receive human islets from our centre. Please contact rebecca.spiers@nds.ox.ac.uk or stephen.hughes@nds.ox.ac.uk for more information. Please note, before we can approve your request, we must receive a copy of your ethics, granted for the purpose and duration for which you intend to use the islets. You will also be required to cover the cost of the transit from Oxford to your lab. An account with a courier capable of shipping UN3373 (Bio substance Cat B) is essential for this purpose. We are happy to offer further advice on suitable couriers if required.
Exocrine tissue provision
Please note, we are also able to distribute human exocrine tissue. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch!