From a Press Release provided by Congenital Hyperinsulinism International (CHI)
A LightCure on the Horizon: With Congenital Hyperinsulinism International as Advocacy
Partner, European Scientists are Developing a Potential New Photodynamic Therapy
Treatment for Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Congenital Hyperinsulinism International (CHI) is excited to announce a new partnership for the
development of a promising investigational treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). HI is a life-threatening illness with few treatment options; complications include hypoglycemic brain injury with developmental disorders and epilepsy. The LightCure consortium’s hypothesis is that light can be used to target and eliminate improperly working pancreatic cells. This project is made possible by a grant of just over €8.2M from European Union research arm Horizon Europe that encompasses CHI’s work to strengthen patient engagement and raise worldwide awareness of HI and its myriad challenges.
“If this approach is successful, it would be an incredible breakthrough,” says Julie Raskin, CEO of CHI. “We love working side by side with scientists on this important project. By being included, there is a recognition of the important role the patient and caregiver community play in raising awareness of the consequences of late diagnosis and in developing patient-reported outcome measures, which are needed in the treatment development process.”