This is only a theoretical possibility at the moment. There are research groups around the world interested in creating whole organs for transplantation. The challenge with the pancreas is that it is a very complex organ with a highly sophisticated vascular supply. These difficult issues at the present time preclude the construction of a working pancreas from stem cells.

The medical literature, however, now has some interesting pioneering descriptions of whole organ manufacture and transplantation. The treatment of a patient with a replacement trachea recently received widespread acclaim in the popular press. In this case stem cells were applied and grown on a purpose built trachea scaffolding before being transplanted into a patient with a defective trachea. This represents amazing maverick work by a highly dedicated multidisciplinary team interested in Regenerative Medicine and led by Professor Paolo Macchiarini. At present we do not have the same possibility to build a replacement pancreas.