Dr. Jonathan Lakey has had a long interest and research direction in cell and tissue transplantation with a focus on diabetes and islet transplantation. Dr. Lakey graduated from the University of Alberta (BSc, MSc, Ph.D.) and received post-post-doctoral training in Indianapolis and Seattle before returning to establish his research program at the University of Alberta. Dr. Lakey was also the Director of the Comprehensive Tissue Bank. Currently, Dr. Lakey is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and in Biomedical Engineering at the University of California Irvine. Dr. Lakey also served as the Director of the Clinical Islet Program at the University of California Irvine before transitioning to become co-Founder and CSO of Xostem.  His contributions and partnership with Dr. James Shapiro led towards the improvement of islet isolation techniques and the development of the “Edmonton Protocol” for patients with Type 1 diabetes, a recognized major advancement in the treatment of diabetes. Dr. Lakey has been awarded research grants and awards for diabetes and transplantation research from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), Canadian Diabetes Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (JDFI). Dr. Lakey values the mentoring of MSc and Ph.D. students in his research laboratory and supported the training of technicians from several research and islet laboratories worldwide.