Integrated Islet Distribution Program

Providing high quality human islet distribution to the diabetes research community.

Supported by the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research
Administered by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- National Institutes of Health

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Need Islets for Research?

Click here to download a blank application and Letter of Agreement.

General Information

OverviewOverview of the program

The Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), replaces the NCRR and JDRF funded National Islet Cell Resource Consortium which ended July 31, 2009. The IIDP continues to provide islet availability for fundamental research. As Chair, Department of Diabetes & Cancer Discovery Science, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope, Joyce C. Niland, Ph.D. serves as Principal Investigator (PI) for this grant.

Islet Isolation CentersIslet isolation centers affiliated with IIDP

The IIDP consists of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Program Officers, an External Scientific Panel, and the Coordinating Center at City of Hope. The IIDP integrates an interactive group of islet isolation centers to coordinate the distribution of human islets. The IIDP Coordinating Center is responsible for broadcasting the availability of human islets to investigators worldwide.

Investigators Information for investigators

All investigators requesting islets must complete and submit an application to the IIDP Coordinating Center. In addition to the completed application form, applicants must also submit a concise but thorough and informative description of the specific objectives, methods associated with the use of islets, rationale for the number of islets requested and statistical methodologies to be employed. Click here for information on how to reference obtaining islets for your grant.

Our Mission

The goal of the Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) is to work with the leading islet isolation centers in the U.S. to distribute high quality human islets to the diabetes research community, in order to advance scientific discoveries and translational medicine.

Our Services

Fair and Equitable Islet Distribution

The IIDP uses a web-based optimization algorithm to match researchers with islets best suited for their studies. This allows uninterrupted islet distribution 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Customizable Islet Demand Levels

The IIDP features a user-defined islet demand classification system which allows researchers to customize their study’s relative priority for islets as: high demand, standard demand, low demand, and on-hold.

Mobile Device-Friendly Website

Web access via smart phones and tablets is now available and customized for optimal viewing. Whether you’re at your desk or on the run, responding to islet offers is easy.

Multi-Center Islet Production Expertise

Our islet production centers have decades of experience as leaders in human islet isolation and distribution. With locations across the United States, we are able to draw upon a large organ donation network.

Standardized Packaging and Shipping

The IIDP utilizes a standardized packaging protocol which has been scientifically tested and proven to maintain islet health and quality.

Human Islet Phenotyping Program

HIPP will provide additional phenotypic data on islet shipments from islet isolation centers affiliated with IIDP. These data will include quantity, viability and potency assessments through standardized assays.

User Satisfaction Analyses

Quantitative and qualitative feedback is collected after every islet shipment and routinely analyzed to improve project satisfaction and success of the program .

Multi-Study Collaboration

The IIDP distribution algorithm can group multiple studies from anywhere in the world to ensure that your collaborators receive the same islet offers as you.

External Scientific Panel

The NIH has selected an External Scientific Panel (ESP) of human islet experts to advise the IIDP on program issues and opportunities for enhancements. The Panel meets regularly to evaluate the program and provide recommendations for improvements.

Human Islet Phenotyping Program

The IIDP Human Islet Phenotyping Program (HIPP) data pipeline begins with the input of data from the distribution centers on isolated, cultured islets, followed by results from assays generated by the HIPP on islets post shipment. These data are then funneled to the IIDP database for presentation to the centers, investigators and research community. The HIPP contribution to the data pipeline will evolve based on program demands.

Our Process

All investigators define their study’s needs by completing donor and islet profiles. Donor gender, age, BMI, and diabetes history as well as islet type, purity, viability and other factors can be modified to ensure your islet needs are met. When islets matching your criteria become available, you will be notified of the available islet offer via email and/or cell phone text messaging. You can review each offer prior to accepting or rejecting online. Islets are then sent directly to you via overnight courier from the islet isolation center that offered the islets. Following every shipment, each islet recipient has the opportunity to provide quantitative and qualitative feedback about the islets and the packaging.

Program Statistics

Since the establishment of the IIDP/ICR in 2001 COH has established an excellent track record of working collaboratively with 19 Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) Islet Isolation Centers and over 500 investigators, placing over 235 million islets and supporting over 300 studies, yielding over 500 peer-review publications. The goal of the IIDP Coordinating Center is to provide high quality human islets to the diabetes research community and has been doing so since 2004. In 2007, the IIDP introduced an algorithm to the Islet Allocation System to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of human islets to all approved investigators.