Cultured human pancreatic islets, and uses thereof

A method of generating cells capable of secreting insulin, the method comprising:

• (a) subjecting mammalian embryonic stem cells to a first set of culturing conditions selected suitable for differentiation of at least a portion of said mammalian embryonic stem cells into cells displaying at least one characteristic associated with a pancreatic islet cell progenitor phenotype;
• and
• (b) subjecting said cells displaying at least one characteristic associated with a pancreatic islet cell progenitor phenotype to a second set of culturing conditions selected suitable for formation of surface bound cell clusters including insulin producing cells, thereby generating cells capable of secreting insulin.

A method of producing insulin, the method comprising:

• (a) subjecting mammalian embryonic stem cells to a first set of culturing conditions selected suitable for differentiation of at least a portion of said mammalian embryonic stem cells into cells displaying at least one characteristic associated with a pancreatic islet cell progenitor phenotype;
• and
• (b) subjecting said cells displaying at least one characteristic associated with a pancreatic islet cell progenitor phenotype to a second set of culturing conditions selected suitable for formation of surface bound cell clusters including insulin producing cells, thereby producing the insulin.

An insulin producing cell cluster comprising insulin producing cells being maintainable in culture for at least 14 days, wherein a proportion of said insulin producing cells in the cell cluster is at least 4 percent.