Dr. Denise Faustman

I know nothing about science and its practitioners. Personal circumstances have led me to read and learn about type 1 diabetes research for almost 25 years now. The cure or solution to diabetes type 1 was always presented as being around the corner, five or ten years away. Diabetes, especially type 2, is a huge industry with great pressure against a "breakthrough". There have been several promising avenues towards a cure for type 1 that have been pursued over the years. One has been islet cell transplants - and a small company - LCT - in Australia leads the way in this field, struggling mightily for financial support. More recently promising trials have begun in the US using stem cells. There are many fine researchers working in the field. Of special note is Bernhard Hering here at the University of Minnesota.

One of the most astonishing researchers in the field is Dr. Denise Faustman. Dr. Faustman has developed her own ideas about how to deal with this nasty illness. She is a revolutionary thinker. For many years now, Dr. Faustman has met stiff resistance - in spite of being connected to a first class laboratory at Mass General. Most of her research financing has come from private sources - Lee Iacocca in particular. The main- stream diabetes research organizations have been strangely reluctant to get behind her. Others have spent some time trying to sidetrack or "borrow" her research ideas, at the same time discounting them. It is an ugly story. Dr. Faustman has remained unfazed through all this, and continued at her work. She is a remarkable woman and you can see an interview with her here.

Today there is the following article in the Wall Street Journal. The story is also in many other newspapers. The reader will notice that there are several interesting angles to this story.

Dr. Denise Faustman has long been a great hero to me, and this news comes as no surprise to me. She is one great gal. Many of the readers of this blog will not miss the parallels to another great researcher - Dr. Judy Mikovits.