PRESIDENT SIGNS COLLINS’ LANDMARK DIABETES LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, DC— President Bush has signed the "Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004," which was co-authored by Senator Susan Collins and Patty Murray (D-WA). The new law aims to find a cure to benefit over 1 million Americans who suffer from Type I, or juvenile diabetes.

"I thank the President for his commitment to people living with juvenile diabetes. The legislation signed into law will allow for promising advances in the fight against diabetes through islet cell transplantation," Senator Collins said. "I am convinced that this disease can be cured, and will be cured in the future. And this new law is an important step forward in this fight."

The primary goal of the new law is to determine if pancreatic islet cell transplantation could become a standard form of therapy for people suffering from Type 1 diabetes. The bill calls for an increase in supply of pancreases for transplantation and improves the coordination of federal efforts and information regarding this issue.

A major breakthrough in diabetes research involving the transplantation of insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells was discovered in 2001. Since then, over 300 individuals have received islet cell transplantation and the majority of them no longer need to take insulin to stay alive. The procedure transplants insulin-producing cells extracted from a cadaver pancreas into a person with juvenile diabetes. These transplanted cells then produce insulin just as the patient's did before they were destroyed by diabetes.

Senators Collins and Murray have worked closely with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), which has lent its full support to this legislation.

Senator Collins is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus.

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