Professor Eelco de Koning is an expert on human insulin-producing cells that reside in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. These cells are destroyed in patients with type 1 diabetes, causing problems with their blood sugar levels. Professor de Koning started islet transplantation with insulin-producing cells in 2007. But due to the shortage of organ donors and the necessity to take drugs that suppress the immune system, this solution is only suitable for a few patients. His research therefore focuses on developing insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells in the lab, trying to create an unlimited source of cells for transplantation that could help all patients suffering from type 1 diabetes in the future.

Professor de Koning is a principal investigator at reNEW and head of the Islet Research lab at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). He also heads LUMC’s Diabetes Center. Additionally, de Koning is the medical director of the Islet Isolation and Transplantation program in the Netherlands. In 2016, he received the Corona-Gallina Award from the Dutch Diabetes Research foundation.

Professor de Koning is a translational researcher and doctor, who is dedicated to the improvement of care for patients with diabetes mellitus. This is evidenced by his numerous involvements with multiple organizations in the field of diabetes and transplantation and his many lectures and interactions with the public.