Our History

Dr. Frederick G. Banting, Dr. Charles H. Best, Dr. James B. Collip (who is on sabbatical from the University of Alberta), and Dr. John R. MacLeod collaborate at the University of Toronto on the discovery and purification of insulin.

Drs. Banting and MacLeod are awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, which they respectively share with Dr. Best and Dr. Collip.

Sir Harold Percival Himsworth postulates that diabetes falls into two categories based on insulin insensitivity.

Identification of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

First pancreatic transplant performed at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Ray V. Rajotte, a biomedical engineer, is cross-appointed to the Departments of Medicine and Surgery within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta with a specific research interest in the cryopreservation and transplantation of islets. He begins his research work with Dr. Molnar on hepatic glucose production.

The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) is established under Dr. Lionel McLeod by the Hon. Peter Lougheed with a $300 million dollar endowment. AHFMR has provided essential grant and salary support to diabetes researchers in Alberta for over 25 years.

Dr. Ray Rajotte and Dr. Garth L. Warnock successfully isolate pure islets from dog pancreases, thus setting the stage for the clinical islet transplant program to follow.

The Muttart Foundation donates $1.2 million to establish the Muttart Diabetes Research and Training Centre (MDRTC) at the University of Alberta, facilitating the recruitment of Dr. Edmond A. Ryan in 1983 and Dr. Alex Rabinovitch, a researcher in the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes, in 1988. Dr. Rabinovitch and Dr. Molnar are co-directors of the MDRTC.

The Islet Transplantation Group is founded at the University of Alberta with Dr. Ray Rajotte named as the group's Director. Dr. Norman M. Kneteman, a liver transplant specialist, joins the group in 1985.

Dr. Edmond A. Ryan conducts a pioneering study identifying insulin resistance of pregnancy and the role of pregnant hormones in gestational diabetes. Dr. Ryan plays a leading role in the University of Alberta's transplant research and becomes Medical Director of the Clinical Islet Transplant Program in 1998.

First human islet transplant procedure in Canada is completed by the Islet Transplantation Group. The third patient receiving the procedure remains insulin-free for two and a half years after receiving a combination of fresh and cryopreserved islets.

Dr. Gregory S. Korbutt, a former graduate student of Dr. Rajotte's, is recruited back to Edmonton to join the Department of Surgery and the Islet Transplantation Group with a strong research background in islet physiology and new sources of islet tissue.

Dr. Jonathan R. T. Lakey returns to the University of Alberta where he had previously trained in large animal and clinical isolation and cryopreservation under Dr. Ray Rajotte and Dr. Garth Warnock and is appointed Director of the Clinical Islet Isolation Laboratory.

Dr. A. M. James Shapiro comes to Edmonton from the United Kingdom to do a Transplant Fellowship and PhD in experimental surgery under Dr. Norman M. Kneteman and is persuaded to stay. With his background as a multi-organ transplant surgeon with experience in clinical immunosuppression and experimental islet transplant research, Dr. Shapiro is named Director of the Clinical Islet Transplant Program.

New England Medical Journal advances publication of the "Edmonton Protocol" article written by eight members of the Islet Transplantation Group (Drs. James Shapiro, Jonathan Lakey, Edmond Ryan, Gregory Korbutt, Ellen Toth, Garth Warnock, Norman Kneteman, and Ray Rajotte) six weeks before schedule for the June issue. The Edmonton Protocol increases islet transplant success rates from 8% to 100% at the one year mark by using a non-corticosteroid treatment regime, and 11,000 islets/kg of patient weight.

Clinical Trials of the Edmonton Protocol begin in ten clinical centres. By 2006, more than 550 patients will be treated using the Edmonton Protocol in approximately 50 clinical centres around the world.

Alberta Foundation for Diabetes Research commits $10 million capital fundraising to HRIF-East campaign and renames itself the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. In response to their generous gift commitment, the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Alberta offer to rename the Alberta Diabetes Institute and commit space in HRIF-East for the Foundation office.

Dr. Ray Rajotte is named Interim Scientific Director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute, (and made permanent Scientific Director in 2004). Mr. Brian Manning of TkMC Consulting Ltd. is contracted to act as Interim Executive Director of the ADI prior to the hiring of a permanent Executive Director.

Grand opening of the new Alberta Diabetes Institute. The Alberta Diabetes Institute officially opens its doors in the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and U of A President Indira Samarasekera tour the facility accompanied by several other delegates from the Alberta Government and the University of Alberta.

The Edmonton Protocol celebrates its 10^th anniversary at a luncheon to commemorate the occasion, President Indira Samarasekera said: "This discovery undoubtedly has had a dramatic influence on the reputation of the U of A around the world. With the incredible success of that first breakthrough came the global recognition that this university is a major centre for diabetes research," she said. "Suddenly we had the world's attention".

Appointment of Dr. Peter Light as Director Dr. Peter Light is appointed as the Scientific Director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute.

Grand opening of the Clinical Research Unit The Alberta Diabetes Institute officially inaugurates the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) in the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation. The new, 8000 ft² facility is designed as a "bridge" to move lab research into human trials, housing specialized equipment for metabolic, nutritional, and physical activity studies.

Edmonton Protocol hits its 500th islet cell transplant milestone and has cemented its status as global leaders in a groundbreaking diabetes treatment.

About 225 patients have undergone one or more transplants since the faculty and Alberta Health Services established the program in 1999.

10th Anniversary of the Alberta Diabetes Institute Building The Institute celebrates 10 years since the grand opening of its physical home in the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation. By this milestone, the ADI has grown to house over 50 Principal Investigators and approximately 200 trainees, making it one of the largest standalone diabetes research institutes in the world.

Dr. Peter Senior appointed Director Following the tenure of Dr. Peter Light, Dr. Peter Senior is appointed as the new Director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute.

25th Anniversary of the Edmonton Protocol The Institute hosts a major international symposium to mark 25 years since the publication of the Edmonton Protocol.