News
Read the latest news about laser therapy and how it is being used to prevent life-threatening diseases for babies. The LightCure consortium’s hypothesis is that light can be used to target and eliminate improperly working pancreatic cells, and you can follow the coverage of research and how this approach is being utilized.
Our News page provides brief overviews of each news article or press release along with a link to the full coverage. Initial postings include published articles by Radboud UMC, Innovation Origins, and a press release from Congenital Hyperinsulinism International (CHI).
LightCure – Project Overview
The LightCure Consortium is developing a targeted photodynamic therapy, that one day could be a promising treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism (HI).
The LightCure Consortium’s hypothesis is that light can be used to target and eliminate improperly working pancreatic cells via a minimally invasive process. This project is made possible by a grant of just over €8.2M from the European Union research arm Horizon Europe that encompasses Congenital Hyperinsulinism International’s work to strengthen patient engagement and raise worldwide awareness of HI and its myriad challenges. Read more here.
Consortium Partners
The LightCure Consortium is a group consisting of 11 members, led by Martin Gotthardt, of Stichting Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum (Radboud) in the Netherlands. To develop this cutting-edge therapy, scientists at the consortium member research centers have successfully isolated an extended amino acid chain that can be modified to bind only to the pancreatic cells responsible for the overproduction of insulin, the root of HI and its complications. Preclinical testing has produced extremely encouraging results.
View the list of Consortium Partners with links to each member institution here.
About congenital hyperinsulinism
Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is the most frequent cause of severe, persistent hypoglycemia in newborn babies and children. In most countries, it occurs in approximately 1/28,000 births. About 60% of babies with HI develop hypoglycemia during the first month of life. An additional 30% will be diagnosed later in the first year and the remainder after that. With early treatment and aggressive prevention of hypoglycemia, brain damage can be prevented.
