Scientists at Stanford Medicine report that they have achieved a complete cure of Type 1 diabetes in mice through a novel, gentler approach combining blood stem-cell and pancreatic islet-cell transplantation.
The findings raise fresh hope for a future treatment that could help people living with autoimmune diabetes.
According to the report published by Stanford Medicine on Nov. 18, 2025 (the source of this story), the team achieved what they describe as an “immune system reset,” which stopped the animals’ bodies from attacking insulin-producing cells.
The mice no longer needed insulin or immune-suppressing drugs throughout the six-month study.
The method involved transplanting donor blood stem cells and islet cells into mice whose immune systems would normally destroy pancreatic cells.
By creating what researchers call a “hybrid immune system,” the transplanted cells were protected, and the animals’ abnormal immune attack was halted. All 19 mice treated before diabetes developed were fully protected, while another nine mice with long-standing diabetes were completely cured.
The approach builds on earlier research from 2022 where similar methods reversed toxin-induced diabetes in mice. This new study tackled the more complex form of autoimmune diabetes, mirroring the human condition more closely.
Lead researchers Dr. Seung Kim, Dr. Judith Shizuru and their colleagues explained that the medications, antibodies and low-dose radiation used in the experiment are already common in clinical settings for blood stem-cell transplants, making human trials a realistic next step.
While challenges remain — including sourcing enough donor islet cells and matching them with blood stem-cell donors — the researchers say they are exploring lab-grown islet cells and other innovations that could solve these problems.
They believe the same technique may eventually be useful for treating other autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as conditions such as sickle-cell anemia, which currently require harsh transplant procedures.
The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and several research foundations connected to diabetes and stem-cell science.
Stanford Medicine says its scientists will continue refining the method in preparation for future human trials.
