Dr. Yong Zhao, based at Hackensack University Medical Center, has developed a promising therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) called Stem Cell Educator Therapy. This approach involves using cord blood-derived stem cells to “educate” a patient’s immune cells, helping to correct autoimmune dysfunction and potentially restoring pancreatic function. Clinical trials have shown that this therapy is safe and has demonstrated some efficacy in patients with both newly diagnosed and long-term T1D.

However, it is important to note that while the therapy shows promise, it has not yet been recognized as a definitive cure. The results have been promising enough to continue trials, including one at Hackensack Medical Center focused on safety. The therapy is still undergoing further evaluation in clinical trials around the world oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — Stem Cell Educator Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: from the Bench to Clinical Trials oai_citation:2,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D. oai_citation:3,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

Stem Cell Educator Therapy is regarded as a potential “practical cure,” meaning it could help manage or reverse the condition significantly, but it hasn’t been widely approved as a full cure yet.

There have been instances where patients experienced significant improvements in their diabetes management after undergoing Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy. In some cases, patients have shown partial restoration of pancreatic beta-cell function, meaning they could produce some insulin again, reducing their need for insulin injections oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — Stem Cell Educator Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: from the Bench to Clinical Trials oai_citation:2,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

However, while these results are promising, they do not represent a complete or permanent reversal of type 1 diabetes in the traditional sense. The therapy is still being tested, and while some patients have shown marked improvements, the trials are ongoing to determine its long-term effectiveness and whether it can offer a widespread, lasting cure oai_citation:3,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D. oai_citation:4,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

The clinical trials for Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy for type 1 diabetes have been ongoing for over a decade. The first major trials began in 2011, testing the safety and efficacy of the therapy. Since then, multiple international trials have been conducted, with ongoing research in locations such as China, Spain, and the United States. A notable trial began at Hackensack University Medical Center in 2017 oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — Stem Cell Educator Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: from the Bench to Clinical Trials oai_citation:2,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

Thus, the trials have been progressing for approximately 13 years, with varying stages of research and testing in different countries.

Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy does not rely on traditional immunotherapy drugs. Instead, the therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells, which are “educated” by cord-blood-derived multipotent stem cells. This process aims to correct autoimmune dysfunction and restore immune balance without the need for conventional immunosuppressive or immunotherapy drugs oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — Stem Cell Educator Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: from the Bench to Clinical Trials oai_citation:2,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D..

The therapy focuses on reprogramming the patient’s immune system to tolerate their own insulin-producing beta cells, potentially reducing or eliminating the autoimmune attack that characterizes type 1 diabetes. As a result, the need for immunotherapy drugs has not been part of the treatment protocol in the clinical trials oai_citation:3,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy does not involve traditional immune suppression. Instead, it uses cord blood-derived stem cells to modulate the immune system, particularly targeting dysregulated immune responses without the need for immunosuppressive drugs. The therapy works by restoring immune balance through mechanisms like reducing the activity of harmful B cells and promoting regulatory functions, which are crucial in autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes and other diseases. This approach differs from conventional immunotherapy, which often involves immune suppression to prevent the body from attacking itself oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — New Studies Revealed the New Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Stem Cell Educator Therapy on Human B Cells oai_citation:2,Throne Biotechnologies — New Molecular Mechanism for Stem Cell Educator Therapy: Suppression of B-Cell Activation by Cord Blood-Derived Stem Cells (CB-SC) via Galectin-9-Dependent Cell Contact Mechanism.

The focus of Zhao’s therapy is immune modulation rather than outright suppression, which reduces the risks associated with long-term immune-suppressive treatments. This strategy aims to correct the underlying immune dysfunction, helping to alleviate the disease without the side effects commonly seen with steroids or other immunosuppressants oai_citation:3,Throne Biotechnologies — New Studies Revealed the New Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Stem Cell Educator Therapy on Human B Cells.

The number of treatments required for Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy can vary depending on the clinical trial and individual response. In some studies, patients have received a single treatment and shown improvement, while other trials have administered two treatments spaced a few months apart to enhance the efficacy oai_citation:1,Throne Biotechnologies — Stem Cell Educator Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: from the Bench to Clinical Trials oai_citation:2,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

For example, in a 2017 trial in China, two treatments were given two months apart to see if the outcomes could be improved oai_citation:3,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications. However, the specific number of treatments and follow-up periods are still being evaluated as part of the ongoing research. The therapy aims to create long-term immune reprogramming, but multiple sessions may be required for some patients to maintain or enhance the therapeutic effects.

For Dr. Yong Zhao’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy, the treatment itself is conducted in a relatively short amount of time. It typically involves a single session where the patient’s blood is circulated through a closed-loop system, which takes a few hours. During this time, the immune cells are “educated” by the cord blood-derived stem cells and returned to the patient.

However, clinical trials may require additional visits for monitoring or follow-up testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. The length of time a patient needs to stay in town for a treatment would depend on these follow-up requirements, but the treatment itself can often be completed within a day. Some trials have involved two treatments spaced a couple of months apart, so patients may need to return for subsequent sessions oai_citation:1,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D. oai_citation:2,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

Several doctors and researchers have made notable progress in addressing type 1 diabetes at the root cause, focusing on immune regulation and pancreatic beta-cell preservation or regeneration. Here are a few prominent examples:

  1. Dr. Denise Faustman – Based at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Faustman has been working on a treatment aimed at re-educating the immune system to stop attacking insulin-producing beta cells. Her research has focused on using the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine to modulate the immune response in type 1 diabetes. Clinical trials have shown some promise in reducing the autoimmune attack, and a long-term study indicated potential improvements in blood sugar control oai_citation:1,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D..

  2. Dr. Camillo Ricordi – At the Diabetes Research Institute (University of Miami), Dr. Ricordi is known for his work in islet cell transplantation, aiming to restore insulin production by transplanting healthy islet cells into type 1 diabetic patients. His work is pioneering cell-based therapies, and he is also working on innovative techniques to protect transplanted islet cells from immune system attack oai_citation:2,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

  3. Dr. Matthias von Herrath – A researcher at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Novo Nordisk, Dr. von Herrath is focusing on combination therapies that include immunomodulation and beta-cell regeneration. His research aims to tackle both the autoimmune aspect of type 1 diabetes and the regeneration of insulin-producing cells oai_citation:3,Yong Zhao, M.D., Ph.D. oai_citation:4,Practical Cure Update: Stem Cell Educator : 2020 Reports : Archives Reports : Report Library : Publications.

These doctors are all exploring different avenues to address the underlying causes of type 1 diabetes, with clinical trials and experimental therapies showing progress in controlling or reversing the disease at its immune or cellular root. While no definitive cure is widely available yet, these efforts represent significant strides in type 1 diabetes research.