A first for Quebec: MUHC patient receives promising new Type 1 diabetes treatment

At the MUHC, innovation takes places in many forms. Bruno Houde, a 58-year-old Montrealer, recently became the first patient in Quebec to receive a transplant of lab-grown cells to help treat his type 1 diabetes—a milestone in an international clinical trial underway at the MUHC.

“The procedure used islet cells, which are these tiny clusters in the pancreas that regulate blood sugar. Traditionally, those cells come from organ donors. But in Bruno’s case, they were grown entirely in a lab from human stem cells, which is what makes this so innovative,” shares Dr. Steven Paraskevas, the principal investigator of the trial and a transplant surgeon at the MUHC.

Bruno, who was diagnosed at age seven, says life with diabetes has often felt like an endless battle. “It’s a nightmare because you’re fighting something that always sneaks up on you,” he says. “For so many years, I felt like I would never win—but this trial is the first time I’ve felt real hope.”

For the more than 300,000 Canadians living with diabetes, daily insulin and constant blood-sugar monitoring are a way of life. When glucose levels spike or fall, the risks can be serious—even deadly. A few months after his transplant, as the transplanted cells fully matured, Bruno was able to stop taking insulin injections completely, and his blood sugars have remained completely normal.

“We’re looking at the possibility of having an inexhaustible supply of these cells,” says Dr. Paraskevas. “That’s incredibly exciting.”

Traditional islet transplants are limited by donor availability, which is complicated even further by the fact that only a fraction of transplanted cells tend to survive. “Most patients need cells from two or more donors,” adds Dr. Paraskevas.

With lab-grown cells, that barrier could disappear, though the treatment still requires immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection.

Dr. Sara Meltzer, the trial’s co-investigator and an endocrinologist at the MUHC, emphasizes that this isn’t a magic fix. The cells continue developing even after infusion, and the patient still has a critical role to play.

“These cells are not 100 per cent mature. They finish growing once they’re in the patient,” she says. “And that takes time.”

According to Dr. Meltzer, Bruno’s commitment made him a strong candidate. “He was really good at managing his diabetes with a huge amount of effort,” she says.

Bruno continues to undergo follow-ups at the MUHC, a trek he always makes by bike. Though he originally had weekly follow-ups, he has recently graduated from monthly follow-ups to every 3 months with the celebration of his transplant anniversary. The trial requires long-term monitoring of up to five years to fully assess outcomes and potential side effects.

“It has been a pleasure to watch history in the making,” says Dr Melissa-Rosina Pasqua, endocrinologist and clinician-scientist specialized in type 1 diabetes research. Dr. Pasqua has taken over endocrine follow-up from Dr. Meltzer, and will be doing so for the rest of the trial. “Bruno no longer requires insulin, and neither do any of the other participants in the trial right now. I'm looking forward to following these patients in the hopes that one day more patients can get offered this treatment.”

Quebec designated the MUHC in 2022 as the province’s only centre for islet transplantation. While approval of transplants of the lab-grown islets may still be years off, Bruno says the changes he’s already seen have transformed his life­.

“The biggest difference is how I feel,” he says. “I’m not afraid to do something because I might have a hypoglycemia. It’s wonderful. I never thought I’d get here.”

Bruno’s story isn’t just about hope­—it’s about the impact of investing in lifechanging science. That’s why, this holiday season, the MUHC Foundation is proud to launch the Not if, But When campaign—an invitation to support the next big discovery in health care. From innovations in diabetes care to advancing liquid biopsy for early cancer detection and driving personalized heart care, there are countless ways to make an impact.

“The idea behind the campaign is rooted in the reality that the next big breakthrough in medicine is more than a possibility­, it’s a promise. Your donation, no matter the amount, could change everything for someone like Bruno—just look at what it’s done already. This innovation is changing lives, not just in the future, but now,” shares Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation.

The doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine believe so deeply in funding innovative medicine that, despite challenges, they are implicating themselves in the campaign by promising to triple every dollar donated. This collaboration—between patients, doctors, and Quebecers from all walks of life—has the potential to transform health care as we know it.

“Philanthropy is what makes real innovation possible. As doctors, we’re deeply grateful to the MUHC Foundation—and to donors like you—because your support truly fuels our work. We see the impact every day in our patients’ lives, and we want to help your generosity go even further,” says Dr. Marc Rodger, MUHC Physician-in-Chief.

Bruno’s journey is just one example of the life-changing innovation happening every day at the MUHC. Discoveries like this have the potential to transform care for the hundreds of thousands of Canadians living with diabetes—and for millions more worldwide. As one of Canada’s top research hospitals, the MUHC gives Quebecers early access to some of the most promising new treatments in medicine.

“As someone who has benefited from this innovative trial, I want to personally thank the donors whose generosity gave me this option. I’m happy to share my hopeful story as proof that every dollar truly makes a difference,” shares Bruno.

This holiday season, we hope you’ll consider supporting the doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine to accelerate innovation across the hospital. Because the next lifesaving breakthrough isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. And for the countless patients like Bruno, who are waiting for the next big development in care, you can make when happen today.

Donate to support the next big breakthrough in care.