The Diabetes Stem Cell Program

The Diabetes Stem Cell Program (DSCP) is a multi-investigator collaborative effort whose overarching goal is to unite expertise in stem cell biology, genomics, developmental biology of pancreatic islet cells, and transplant immunology in a joint scientific endeavor.
Key objectives of the DSCP include: a) the identification of basic mechanisms that drive the specification of pluripotent stem cells toward the pancreatic islet lineage, b) their translation into more efficient protocols for the ex vivo derivation and functional maturation of pancreatic islet cells and that prevents the development of unwanted cell populations (i.e. non endocrine cells), c) optimization of methods for the assessment of cell differentiation and metabolic analysis, and d) the design of novel technologies that promote cell transplant engraftment and function while preventing immune rejection. Ultimately, our efforts are aimed at developing innovative cell replacement strategies for the treatment of diabetes.

Program Investigators

Vincenzo Cirulli MD, PhD
Vincenzo Cirulli MD, PhD

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Director, UWDI Diabetes Stem Cell Program
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Laura Crisa MD, PhD
Laura Crisa MD, PhD

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Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Marshall Horwitz, MD, PhD
Marshall Horwitz, MD, PhD

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A major interest of my laboratory is to map cell fate at single cell resolution by retrospectively inferring the order in which somatic mutations have accumulated. We have helped developed systems for doing so based on both naturally arising mutations as well as recording systems utilizing genome editing.

Michael Schwartz, MD
Michael Schwartz, MD

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Co-Director, UW Diabetes Institute Professor of Medicine
Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Ian Sweet, PhD
Ian Sweet, PhD

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Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition


Contact Us

UW Medicine Diabetes Institute
750 Republican Street, Box 358062
Seattle, WA 98109

Diabetes Stem Cell Program Director: Vincenzo Cirulli, MD, PhD

Email: vcirulli@uw.edu