PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and their environment, today announced that its ViaCord Research Institute™ (VRI™), which focuses on supporting science, technology and medical treatments using cord blood stem cells, will support the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) in its research efforts into the potential use of umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells in treating type 1 diabetes. The initiative will be led by chief investigator Dale L. Greiner, Ph.D., of UMMS’ Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center.

“We are very pleased to support UMMS’ continued efforts to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes,” said Morey Kraus, chairman, Medical Scientific Advisory Board, ViaCord Research Institute. “Cord blood is a valuable, non-controversial source of stem cells with proven effect in treating more than 70 serious diseases and we believe exploring this potential in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes and other immune disorders is critical. VRI is committed to supporting important research, like that being conducted by Dr. Greiner, to help expand the medical use of cord blood derived stem cells to include the treatment of additional diseases, including diabetes.”

“Our primary goal is to study the ability of these cord blood derived cells to modulate a human immune system in a pre-clinical animal model,” said Dale L. Greiner, Ph.D., professor of medicine, University of Massachusetts Mass Medical School. “This collaboration between ViaCord and the University of Massachusetts Medical School is a great opportunity for interaction of the biomedical research expertise at the university with a global technology company dedicated human health to fulfill the goals of bringing cutting edge research in the state to the public.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes affects more than 23.6 million Americans, or 7.8 percent of the population, and is estimated to have a total annual economic cost of $174 billion. Type 1 diabetes, which accounts for between five and ten percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, is an autoimmune disease, generally occurring in children and young adults. Because patients with type 1 diabetes do not product insulin naturally, they must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump to help maintain their health. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.