PhD Defence João Paulo Monteiro Carvalho Mori Cunha

December 22, 2016

João Paulo Monteiro Carvalho Mori Cunha has successfully defended his PhD thesis, titled "Boosting beta-cell replacement therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes." This defense marks a significant milestone in João’s academic journey, and we were honored to welcome an esteemed panel of experts as members of the examination jury. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the jury members for their invaluable contributions through constructive feedback and insightful questions, which greatly enriched both the defense and the final thesis. Special thanks go to Lorenzo Piemonti (San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy), Christophe De Block (Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium), Johannes Creemers (KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium), and Guy Boeckxstaens (KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium). Their thoughtful perspectives and critical insights were instrumental in shaping the quality and depth of João’s PhD work. We are deeply grateful for their engagement and support throughout this important academic milestone.

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PhD Research Summary - Dr. Monteiro

This thesis investigated new strategies to improve islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes by targeting both immune rejection and engraftment challenges. A combination therapy using low-dose anti-CD3 antibodies with engineered Lactococcus lactis producing proinsulin and IL-10 prevented autoimmune diabetes recurrence in more than half of long-term diabetic NOD mice. In addition, co-transplantation of human multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC®) improved islet graft survival by enhancing revascularization and function.

These results show that combining antigen-specific immune tolerance with cell-based support for engraftment can significantly boost islet graft outcomes, offering promising avenues toward long-term success in beta-cell replacement therapies.

More information can be found in the link.

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