University programs

The Schulze Diabetes Institute has a very distinct mission: to find a cure for type 1 diabetes using islet cell transplantation.

Several programs at the University are working just as hard to treat the various aspects of this multi-faceted disease. Collectively, University of Minnesota medical experts are taking a comprehensive approach to reverse the devastating effects of diabetes.

Center for Diabetes Research

One of the primary functions of the Center is to maintain a registry of the various diabetes investigators at the University of Minnesota, and provide effective mechanisms through which these researchers may communicate with each other.

Stem Cell Institute

It is said that stem cell research, and regenerative medicine in general, will have as much impact on our lives in the 21st century as did antibiotics in the 20th. This research holds special promise for treating diabetes as the Institute works to develop stem-cell derived islets -- including those from a patient’s own cells. Dr. Meri Firpo, director of the stem cell program, is quick to acknowledge the importance of the financial support her program receives from the Schulze Family Foundation, as it enables her team to work on multiple initiatives at the same time in order to move forward quickly.

Decade of Discovery

The Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics is a collaborative research effort between the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic. Together, they launched the Decade of Discovery, a major medical initiative with the goal of treating and ultimately curing type 1 and type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Combining Mayo Clinic’s expertise in endocrinology research and the University’s leadership in islet cell transplantation and stem cell technology, this effort positions Minnesota as a pioneering leader in the advancement of a cure.