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Type 1 diabetes: pancreatic islet vascularisation on-chip


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Within the framework of the FOCUS OSP* and ANR JCJC ATOP1* projects, researchers from CEA-Irig/BGE/BIOMICS recently demonstrated that co-culture of a pancreatic islet* with a blood vessel organoid* leads to the fusion of these two three-dimensional (3D) structures, forming what is known as an 'assembloid'. Outside the body (ex vivo), this assembloid shows improved insulin secretion over time. Taking this a step further, in collaboration with CEA-Leti/DTIS/SEMIV, the team recently succeeded in placing an assembloid onto a microfluidic chip.

This breakthrough paves the way for precision and personalized medicine for diabetes—specifically regarding pancreatic islet transplantation—and aligns with the CEA's strategic focus on the "Medicine of the Future."

Published on 14 September 2026

Improving the survival and function of pancreatic islet grafts is a major area of research for the treatment of type 1 diabetes*.

A study led by CEA-Irig/BGE/BIOMICS, published in Cell Reports (Tubbs et al., 2025) and highlighted in Nature Reviews Endocrinology (Carty, 2025), describes an approach capable of addressing the issue of insufficient blood supply to transplanted islets. By co-culturing blood vessel organoids (known as BVOs) and human-derived pancreatic islets in a 3D ex vivo environment, the vascular cells fused with the islets to form 'assembloids', enabling the islets to maintain their insulin-producing capacity up to 14 days. Moving forward, the team aims to test this system under conditions that more closely mimic the human body—specifically involving physiological flow—which is expected to further demonstrate the benefits of these assembloids.

As part of the MAGIC project*—conducted under the national program PEPR MEDOOC* in collaboration with CEA-Leti/DTIS/SEMIV—Bianca Menzani's doctoral research enabled to develop the culture of blood vessel organoids derived from stem cells within the laboratory CEA-Irig/BGE/BIOMICS, followed by their progressive fusion with native human islets. Then, these assembloids were successfully integrated into a serpentine microfluidic chip, in direct interaction with a surrounding vascular network. 3D image reconstruction using IMARIS* reveals a very dense vascular proximity around the islet, suggesting the potential for future intratissue perfusion. ​



Figure : After on-chip injection, the assembloids integrate into the surrounding vascular network. The CD31 marker (red) allows for the visualization of both the external endothelial structures (green) and those of the BVOs, while the pancreatic islet is identified in orange. 3D IMARIS analysis reveals dense vascularization in the immediate vicinity of the islet, indicating a favourable and potentially perfusable vascular microenvironment.

© Adapted from Menzani et al., Lab on a Chip 2026, 26, 1798–1819, DOI: 10.1039/D5LC00890E, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.




​This work represents a step forward in developing more physiologically representative graft-on-a-chip models for type 1 diabetes. In the future, this platform could be used to study immune cell trafficking and transplant rejection within a controlled in vitro human system.

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FOCUS OSP*: An interdisciplinary program ("Focus Organoids-on-Chip") aimed at developing organoids-on-chip (OOC) to foster breakthrough concepts and technologies in the medical field.

ANR JCJC ATOP1*: The ATOP1 project ("A Therapy fOr tyPe 1 Diabetes"), reference ANR-24-CE52-7278, is a scientific research project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and led by Emily Tubbs. It aims to develop a pancreatic islet-on-chip model to improve cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes.

Pancreatic islet*: A small cluster of cells located in the pancreas. Its role is to produce hormones (such as insulin) to regulate blood sugar levels (glycemia). These islets are involved in diseases such as diabetes.

Organoid*: The suffix "-oid" means "which mimics." Organoids are cell-based structures that resemble organs by mimicking their structure and function.

Type 1 diabetes*: A chronic disease in which the immune system damages the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

PEPR-MEDOOC*: The "Organs and Organoids-on-Chip" exploratory research program (PEPR MEDOOC) aims to deploy a new generation of biological models in France through the development of organs-on-chip and organoids-on-chip (O&OoC). The State has entrusted its coordination to the CEA, CNRS, and Inserm, with scientific leadership provided by Arnaud Millet (CEA), Stéphanie Descroix (CNRS), and Maxime Mahé (Inserm). MEDOOC is funded by the France 2030 plan over a six-year period, with a budget of €48.4 million managed by the ANR.              
https://www.pepr-medooc.fr/a-propos/presentation-generale/

MAGIC project*: a PEPR-MEDOOC targeted project focusing on "Type 1 diabetes-on-a-chip," led by Fabrice Navarro and Sandrine Lablanche, and conducted at CEA-Leti, CEA-IRIG, and CHUGA.               
https://www.pepr-medooc.fr/projet/diabete-de-type-1-sur-puce-magic/

IMARIS*: software for the analysis and visualization of 3D and 4D microscopy images, used in cell biology and live-cell imaging, notably enabling the 3D reconstruction of cells, tissues, or organoids.

  • UMR : Univ. Grenoble Alpes (UGA), CEA (Irig et Leti), Inserm (UA13 BGE).
  • Fundings : FOCUS OOC and OOC inflexion of CEA; LabEX GRAL (ANR-10-LABX-49-01), the University Grenoble Alpes graduate school CBH-EUR-GS (ANR-17-EURE-0003), ANR-JCJC “ATOP1" (ANR-24-CE52-7278-01), and ANR MAGIC (ANR-24-EXME-0003).​
  • Collaborations : CEA-Leti/DTIS/SEMIV, AP-HP (Hôpital Saint-Louis), Laboratoire de Thérapie cellulaire du diabète du CHU de Montpellier, Centre Européen des Études sur le Diabète (CeeD, Strasbourg), ILONOV, Pôle de chirurgie expérimentale et transplantation de l'université catholique de Louvain, Leiden University Medical Center.


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