Dr. Garfinkel’s laboratory is focused on the development of a clinical islet transplantation program to the University of Chicago. In order to achieve this aim, it is Dr. Garfinkel’s goal to adapt the successful islet isolation protocols developed at the University of Alberta and elsewhere to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices standards soon expected to be required of clinical islet isolation facilities within the United States. This includes quality control testing on isolated and purified islets as well as determining methods of enhancing islet yield and quality. In addition to the development of a clinical program and isolation facility, the lab has several investigational components. One focus of the lab involves basic islet physiology and pharmacology as assessed by methods of perifusion and static incubation. One project underway involves assessment of the effects of modified recombinant C-reactive protein on glucose stimulated insulin secretion at varying timepoints after initial culture. Another focus involves performance of functional testing on "islet-like clusters" developed from non-fetal stem cells. Finally, in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, the lab is examining methods of immunoisolation by novel concepts in microencapsulation.