DRWF Fundraising: Doctors run for the cure in dash for diabetes
Two DRWF-funded doctors and colleague recently took part in a 10km race as thank you to the charity for support.
Doctors from the DRWF-funded Human Islet Isolation Facility at Oxford recently took part in a 10km race in the city to support the charity.
Artjoms Portnojs and Rebecca Spiers are doctors at the islet cell transplant centre and, with their colleague Anthony Cornu, raised a fabulous £433.75 for DRWF.
The Bidwells Oxford Town & Gown 10K is the only closed-route race in Oxford, offering runners a scenic route through the city’s famous landmarks and historic charm. The course features stretches through the city’s parks and alongside its rivers.
Around 6,000 runners took part in the May event.
Rebecca said: “We took part to show our appreciation for the generous and ongoing support that the DRWF provides to our team and our unit – the Oxford DRWF Human Islet Isolation Facility.”
Kerry Chambers, Community Engagement Fundraiser at DRWF, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Rebecca, Artjoms and Anthony for going the extra mile, quite literally, in support of DRWF. Their inspiring effort not only raised vital funds but also highlights the dedication of the teams working at the forefront of islet cell research. Community support like this plays a crucial role in helping us advance life-changing treatments for people living with type 1 diabetes.”
DRWF and islet cell research
DRWF has made a significant commitment to Islet Cell Research and Transplant both in the UK and around the world.
In 2004, we made an unprecedented grant to the Nuffield Department of Surgery at the Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for the provision of a Human Islet Isolation Facility.
The DRWF Human Islet Isolation Facility was launched in 2006 at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Housed within the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), this facility harvests insulin producing islet cells from donor pancreas for research and transplant. It plays a pivotal role in the supply of islets for the delivery of an NHS funded national therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
What is an islet cell transplant?
People develop type 1 diabetes because they are unable to produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is made by cells called Langerhans – or 'islets'. Islet cells produce insulin when blood glucose levels in the body are high, bringing them down again and stop producing insulin when the blood glucose levels are low.
Islet cell transplantation involves extracting islet cells from the pancreas of a deceased donor and implanting them in the liver of someone with type 1 diabetes. First, islets are extracted from someone who has died and given consent for their organs to be used for transplantation. If this produces a suitable number of good quality islets, they can be offered to someone in need of a transplant.
Read more about DRWF-funded research at: www.drwf.org.uk/drwf-research
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