Non-Invasive In Vivo Imaging and Methods for Treating Type I Diabetes

A method for drug development comprising

• (a) engrafting target cells into the eye of a test animal, wherein one or more cellular component of therapeutic interest in the transplanted target cells are fluorescently labeled;
• (b) contacting the target cells with one or more test compounds;
• and
• (c) performing non-invasive fluorescent imaging on the eye of the test animal,
• wherein the fluorescent imaging is used to detect test compound-induced changes in one or more of activity, location, and amount of the fluorescently labeled cellular components of therapeutic interest in the engrafted target cells, wherein the changes identify those test compounds that may provide a therapeutic benefit to the target cells.