History

Our Tradition of Innovation

For nearly 80 years, scientists at UCSF have been making breakthrough discoveries that have improved diabetes treatment and saved countless lives around the world.

Our researchers and clinicians:

• cloned the gene that produces insulin, making possible the unlimited supply of human insulin available today;
• co-founded stem cells that are widely believed to have benefits for diabetes and for numerous other diseases;
• identified autoimmune predictors of type 1 diabetes, helping to develop tests to predict those at risk for developing the disease;
• were the first to demonstrate that elevated blood sugar caused complications, helping to pioneer the intensive glucose control strategies now utilized throughout the world;
• were the first to link obesity to type 2 diabetes, resulting in revolutionary changes in diabetes treatment and prevention.

Our Patient Care Legacy

Through the years, our clinicians have been trailblazers in creating innovative clinical care and education programs for those with diabetes.   
   
In the midst of the Great Depression, UCSF pediatric physicians founded the first camp for diabetic children west of the Mississippi and one of the first in the country –- forever altering the lives of children with diabetes.  We are proud that this camp, Bearskin Meadow, continues to thrive -- thanks to the Diabetic Youth Foundation and thousands of families who benefit from its programming each year.

And, thanks to the vision and dedication of our adult diabetes clinicians including Peggy Huang, RN, CDE, the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center was launched in 1977.  One of the first comprehensive programs of its kind, the Diabetes Teaching Center brings together the skills of physicians, nurses, counselors, pharmacists and nutritionists to provide individuals with diabetes education and self-management resources.  Thousands of people from around the world have benefited from our workshops and programs. 

Our Commitment to Cures

Nearly ten years ago, Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone, one of the world’s leading experts on why the body’s immune system decides to reject or accept transplanted tissue, was recruited to UCSF.  Dr. Bluestone, whose research has catalyzed recent progress in stem cell research, islet cell transplantation, and immune tolerance therapies, is our Director of the Diabetes Center.  He also serves as Director of the Immune Tolerance Network, a government supported consortium of over 80 of the world’s leading scientific researchers dedicated to the clinical testing of new therapies for immune tolerance. 

Since 2000, we have:

• initiated phase III clinical trials of a promising monoclonal antibody to investigate its ability to halt the autoimmune destruction of insulin- producing beta cells in type 1 diabetes;
• created one of the world’s most advanced stem cell programs in diabetes focused on creating an unlimited source of beta cells;
• established one of the first, fully certified, state-of-the-art human islet and cellular transplantation facilities to help isolate pancreatic islets for transplantation;
• developed less toxic anti-rejection therapies to preserve insulin-producing beta cells without causing dangerous side effects for patients.

Our Millennium Milestones

As we near the end of this decade, we felt it was important to document our progress and show how the Diabetes Center is making a difference in treating and curing diabetes.  We invite you to learn more about our advancements in research and clinical care by downloading our publication, Millennium Milestones.