University could end animal tests for diabetes

Scientists at a Scottish university are using human skin cells in a study aimed at cutting the need for animal testing in diabetes research.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is using donated skin to create human stem cells to help further knowledge of the condition.

The approach differs from traditional diabetes research where strains of genetically-modified mice and rats are bred for studies because they are thought to mimic the effects of diabetes in humans.

The cells are taken from GCU’S skin research tissue bank – a collection of human tissue and cells donated by patients with conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Researchers can then reprogramme the human skin cells to generate stem cells.