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Who We Are

Spring Point Project is a non-profit corporation formed September 23, 2004 in Minnesota, with the mission:
To expedite the widespread availability of islet tissue for diabetes care by developing premier source pigs for islet xenotransplantation.

Spring Point Project has obtained 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. It is presided over by a Board of Directors who have ownership of the corporation. The company works in partnership with the Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation at the Department of Surgery of the University of Minnesota, where the preclinical work in models of transplantation is performed and where clinical studies are foreseen. The company collaborates with other scientists within and outside the University as well. The budgetary implications for collaborating institutions are attached

The objectives of Spring Point Project to achieve its mission:

Establish facilities to raise designated pathogen-free (DPF) pigs with genetics for high islet cell yield to be used for clinical islet xenotransplantation trials.
Provide resources to perfect an immunosuppression regimen tailored to preventing rejection of transplanted porcine islet cells, and for the genetic improvement of pigs to minimize recipient immunosuppression and prevent the transmission of viruses.
Develop DPF animals for and participate in clinical trials.

The most relevant milestone in realization of the mission is the start of first clinical trials foreseen in 2009. The work foreseen to reach this milestone in partnership with the Diabetes Institute includes:

Fundraising: the goal is to raise $20 Million by the end of 2008.
Efficacy in preclinical studies conducted at the Diabetes Institute.
Availability of DPF premier source animals to serve as donor for xenotransplantation
Safety monitoring, including the potential of cross-species disease transmission.
The Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (http://www.diabeteswellness.net/) is a major foundation supporting the work of Spring Point Project, which is gratefully acknowledged

To fulfill its mission, Spring Point Project has reached the following milestones (status December 2006), leading to the conclusion that our work is solidly on target to reach the objectives of initiating clinical trials in 2009:

Recruited Henk-Jan Schuurman, PhD, an extremely experienced researcher and executive in the field of xenotransplantation, to head Spring Point Project as its CEO (April).
Completed the design of the Source Animal Facility (SAF), suitable for the production of animals meeting all regulatory requirements to yield islet tissue suitable for transplantation into humans (April).
Purchased a suitable property in western Wisconsin on which to build the SAF, and initiated the construction of the 21,000 square foot, 6.2 million dollar facility (April/May).
Celebrated a Groundbreaking Ceremony for this SAF (June). At the end of 2006, construction is on track for operations to begin in February 2007.
Received favourable response from the FDA on submitted documentation regarding the design and flow processes through the SAF, and the DPF status proposed for animals generated in the facility (June).
Sponsored research at the UMN to screen for and generate animals incapable of transmitting PERVs to humans (May).
Introduced cesarean derived SPF piglets into Spring Point Project’s Multiplier Facility in eastern South Dakota to build the genetic diversity of the progenitor animals for Spring Point Project’s future programs (April/May).
Convened the inaugural meeting of Spring Point Project’s Safety Advisory Board, a group of world renowned scientists in health management and infectious disease aspects of swine, in particular when kept in biosecure facilities like SPP’s Source Animal Facility. The Board assessed Spring Point’s facility design and the specifications of animals generated. The results of the assessment were incorporated into a regulatory submission to the FDA (April).
Celebrated a Gala event announcing the public phase of the campaign to raise $20 Million (June).
Passed $15 Million mark in funds raised at or above 75% of goal 2006-2008 (December).
Initiated the hiring of staff for the Source Animal Facility: attracted Dr. Michael J. Martin, a well recognized expert in advanced swine reproduction technologies as Director of Animal Facilities, and Dr. Adrienne Schucker, a veterinarian with broad experience in regulatory affairs of swine husbandry (September).