Curing Diabetes, Pigs Turn to Lions

MINNEAPOLIS, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Receiving more than $80,000
from Minnesota and Wisconsin Multiple District Lions Clubs over the past
years, Spring Point Project, a non profit organization developing pig donors
for pancreatic islet transplantation to cure diabetes, is attending the Lions
Clubs International 92nd Convention. Over 12,000 Lions delegates from more
than 200 countries are expected to attend the convention July 6-10, 2009, in
Minneapolis, Minn.

Spring Point Project will be giving presentations to inform Lions members of
this very promising progress toward a diabetes cure. The research is in
partnership with Spring Point Project and the Schulze Diabetes Institute at
the University of Minnesota. Clinical trials are anticipated to begin within a
year.

"The ongoing endorsement and support of the Lions Clubs members and their
financial contributions has been extremely important and uplifting to Spring
Point Project. It's great to see two nonprofit organizations joining together
toward the cure for diabetes," says Henk-Jan Schuurman, Ph.D., Spring Point
Project CEO. "The Lions Clubs are, perhaps, best known for their work with eye
sight programs, but given that blindness can result from diabetes, Spring
Point Project is a natural fit."

Local Lions chapters work to develop their own programs to support diabetes
research and education. A year ago, the Minnesota Lions Diabetes Foundation,
Inc. was established by the Lions Clubs of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba and
Ontario -- a division of the International Association of Lions Clubs. This
group will be spearheading future Lions fundraising efforts to support Spring
Point Project and the Schulze Diabetes Institute.

Schuurman adds, "Although the Minnesota Lions Diabetes Foundation is newly
initiated, some Lions members have been connected to diabetes awareness for
years. In particular, we are very fortunate to partner with Lion Larry Winner,
of Duluth, Minn., due to his commitment in promoting diabetes research for
more than 12 years. As a trustee of the foundation, and Multiple District
Spring Point Project Chairperson he will lead the way by promoting awareness
and financial support for our activities through all reaches of the Lions
organization."

Type 1 diabetes destroys islet cells, which requires people with this disease
to inject themselves regularly with insulin in order to stay alive. Diabetes
often leads to debilitating conditions such as blindness, stroke and heart
attack. Replacing islets is the basis for the potential diabetes cure. Spring
Point Project operates a biosecure facility known as the Diabetes Research and
Wellness Foundation (DRWF) Islet Resource Facility where high-health,
'medical-grade' pig donors are produced as a source for the islets suitable
for human transplantation.

The Lions Clubs, www.lionsclubs.org, headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., is the
world's largest service organization of 1.3 million men and women in 205
countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that
challenge communities around the world. Beginning in 1917, the association has
provided millions of people with the opportunity to give something back to
their communities.

Spring Point Project, www.springpointproject.org, headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minn., is working to provide an unlimited source of pig islet
cells to accelerate the availability and affordability of islet
transplantation to cure diabetes. Spring Point Project and the Schulze
Diabetes Institute of the University of Minnesota work in partnership to
provide the source and science needed to move toward a cure for diabetes.

Schulze Diabetes Institute, www.diabetesinstitute.org, at the University of
Minnesota, began in 1994. The University of Minnesota Medical School
capitalized upon its historic strengths in pancreas transplantation by
establishing the Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation (DIIT)
to pursue a cure for diabetes. The DIIT was renamed the Schulze Diabetes
Institute in 2008.

The Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF),
www.diabeteswellness.net, a not-for-profit worldwide network based in
Washington, DC, provided a $6.2 million grant to Spring Point Project. In
recognition, Spring Point Project's Islet Resource Facility was named after
the DRWF.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.newswise.com.
Media Contacts:
Janet Bosserman
R/P Marketing Public Relations
(419)241-2221
jbosserman@r-p.com

SOURCE Spring Point Project

Janet Bosserman, +1-419-241-2221, jbosserman@r-p.com, for the Spring Point
Project