loCATIONS
Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LE
Heide Brandhorst
Dr.oec.troph., Ph.D.
Senior Postdoctoral Scientist
The success of human islet transplantation strongly depends on the outcome of the enzymatic islet isolation process. My research activity aims at optimisation and standarisation of protease blends to maximise islet release from within the acinar tissue of the human pancreas and to prevent enzymatic destruction of these fragile micro-organs.
As an initial step toward enzyme standardisation we previously provided the prove of principal that successful human islet isolation is possible by utilisation of a recombinant collagenase blend.
Further optimsation was obtained by identifying the ideal ratio between collagenase class I and class II which was an important step to reduce islet-toxic proteolytic activities.
Currently we are working to identify alternative enzymes that can replace neutral protease activities which are characterised by islet-toxicity.
Recent publications
Low Responsiveness of Macroencapsulated Human Islets Towards Glucose Challenge Despite Excellent Survival in Silicone-Based Oxygen-Delivering Devices.
Journal article
Brandhorst D. et al, (2025), Bioengineering (Basel), 13
INITIAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ADENOSINE RECEPTORS ON ISOLATED HUMAN ISLETS
Journal article
Brandhorst D. et al, (2025), TRANSPLANTATION, 109, 66 - 66
USING A TRANSIENT COLD ROOM DURING COBE ISLET PURIFICATION REDUCES THE ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIAL BURDEN AND ASSOCIATED ENERGY COSTS WHEN COMPARED TO THE USE OF A PERMANENT COLD ROOM
Journal article
Crawford L. et al, (2025), TRANSPLANTATION, 109, 86 - 86
Perlecan: An Islet Basement Membrane Protein with Protective Anti-Inflammatory Characteristics.
Journal article
Brandhorst D. et al, (2024), Bioengineering (Basel), 11
Solubilized Pancreatic Extracellular Matrix from Juvenile Pigs Protects Isolated Human Islets from Hypoxia-Induced Damage: A Viable Option for Clinical Islet Transplantation.
Journal article
Brandhorst H. et al, (2023), J Tissue Eng Regen Med, 2023