Episode 32: Alexandra Smink, PhD, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

In this episode, Alexandra Smink joins Monica Westley to discuss her research in the type 1 diabetes space. Dr. Smink's research focuses on polymer scaffolds for pancreatic islet transplantation. In 2018, Dr. Smink was awarded the young investigator JDRF award and most recently was awarded the EASD Rising Star Award.

Using so-called extracellular matrix, which can be used to wrap the islets up and, thus, protect them from the outside world where the immune system lurks, Dr Smink from the Netherlands has designed a device capable of communicating with this outside world but doing so safely, in order to get the nutrients, oxygen and other molecules that the islets need to survive.