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AstraZeneca Challenge: Retrievable Device for Islet Transplantation

25 Submissions
$25,000 USD
Challenge closed

Challenge overview

Pancreatic islet beta-cells sense blood sugar levels and secrete insulin to maintain homeostasis. In patients with diabetes, islet beta-cells are either lacking or ineffective. Islet transplantation is a treatment strategy that allows diabetics to reduce or eliminate the need for insulin injections to control their disease. AstraZeneca is searching for a simple device to transplant human islets to facilitate testing of therapeutic agents.

This Challenge requires only a written proposal.

Diabetes is a disease of the pancreatic islet cells. Of the four cell types, insulin-producing beta-cells are the most abundant. Without adequate levels of insulin, diabetes patients have difficulty controlling their blood sugar. One alternative to self-administration of medicine is islet transplantation. The procedure involves an infusion of isolated donor islets into the patient. If the graft is accepted, these islets will function to regulate blood glucose levels through the production of insulin. AstraZeneca is searching for a simple device for the transplantation and subsequent retrieval of human islets to support in vivo testing of therapeutic agents.

ABOUT THE SEEKER

AstraZeneca is a global, research-based, biopharmaceutical company with a focus on five key therapeutic areas: 1) cardiovascular & metabolic diseases, 2) oncology, 3) respiratory, inflammation & autoimmunity, 4) neuroscience, and 5) infection. As an innovation-driven, research organization, AstraZeneca recognizes that great ideas come from many sources. Open innovation is an avenue by which ideas can be shared and AstraZeneca recently launched a pavilion to further its commitment to facilitate the advancement of pharmaceutical research.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on June 16, 2015. Late submissions will not be considered.

This is a Theoretical Challenge that requires only a written proposal to be submitted. The Challenge award will be contingent upon theoretical evaluation of the proposal by the Seeker.

To receive an award, Solvers will not be required to transfer their exclusive IP rights to the Seeker. Instead, Solvers will grant to the Seeker a non-exclusive license to practice their solutions.

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