The goal of this interventional study is to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells and differentiate them into insulin-producing β cells in patients with metabolic and genetic pancreatic diseases and in healthy controls. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Can somatic cells from healthy individuals and patients with diabetes be successfully reprogrammed into iPSCs?
Can these iPSCs be differentiated into functional insulin-producing β cells suitable for studying disease mechanisms and developing cell-based therapies?
Participants will provide a single biological sample (either a 3 mm skin punch biopsy, a blood sample, or a urine sample) collected under sterile conditions. The samples will be used to derive somatic cells, which will then be reprogrammed into iPSCs and differentiated into β cells for laboratory analyses.
Participants will:
Undergo a one-time sample collection (skin biopsy, blood draw, or urine collection) at Ospedale San Raffaele
Receive standard post-procedure care (if applicable)
This research aims to improve understanding of β cell function and dysfunction in diabetes and to advance personalized regenerative therapies for β cell replacement.