Islet transplantation is gaining acceptance as a therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D), but current protocols are not optimal 1: there is extensive loss of islet β‐cell insulin secretory function during the pretransplantation culture in vitro 1, 2 and during the immediate post‐transplantation period, when islet function and survival are compromised by the hypoxic, inflammatory host environment 3. Here, INS is linked to type 1 diabetes mellitus.