SENATE APPROVES COLLINS'' LEGISLATION TO HELP COMBAT DIABETES

WASHINGTON, DC— Last night the full Senate passed the "Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004" by unanimous consent. This legislation which was authored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) offers hope for a cure to over 1 million Americans who suffer from Type 1, or juvenile diabetes. The primary goal of this legislation 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.

"Islet cell transplantation is a promising procedure for people with diabetes," Senator Collins said. "As founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I am pleased that both the House and the Senate have passed this legislation that has the ability to improve the lives of the millions of people living with Type 1 diabetes." The legislation will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

This legislation is strongly supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF). Founded in 1970, JDRF is committed to finding a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. "The Pancreatic Islet Transplantation Act greatly helps to advance the field of islet transplantation, and we are thrilled have the support of the United States Government in our quest to cure diabetes," said Peter Van Etten, President and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "We are especially grateful to Senators Collins and Murray for sponsoring this bill."

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.

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

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