For further information on any of the projects, please contact the Diabetes UK Research team on research@diabetes.org.uk.
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For further information about other research projects funded by Diabetes UK please consult our Research project directory.
Building on diabetes research focused on short portions of the skin proteins of frogs, Dr Abdel-Wahab and his team will produce synthetic copies of four such portions and test their ability to increase insulin production and reduce blood glucose in mice with Type 2.
High levels of the enzyme BACE1 are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, while levels that are lower than normal have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control and limit obesity in mice. Prof Mike Ashford will determine whether Alzheimer’s drugs that inhibit BACE1 can reverse or prevent Type 2 in mice.
Adiponectin is a hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels but whose role in diabetes in uncertain. Researchers at Peninsula Medical School will carry out the largest human study of adiponectin in Type 2 diabetes, providing much needed advances in our understanding of the role of this hormone.
Dr Kathleen Gillespie at the University of Bristol will use state-of-the-art techniques to improve our understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the immune attack that causes Type 1 diabetes. She will identify immune cells found in the pancreases of humans and mice with Type 1 diabetes, and compare these to cells found in healthy pancreas.
People of West African origin are at higher risk of Type 2 diabetes than White Europeans. Dr Louise Goff aims to uncover the metabolic mechanisms underlying these differences, perhaps enabling the development of more efficient targeted treatments.
Transient neonatal diabetes (TND1) is a rare, inherited form of diabetes that affects newborns and is caused by specific genetic mutations. Dr Deborah MacKay and her team will support the diagnosis and management of TND1 globally and improve their understanding of the features and the genetics involved.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with raised levels of free fatty acids in the bloodstream, which damages the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Little is known about the mechanisms involved in the uptake of fatty acids into beta cells and so Professor Noel Morgan will use state-of-the-art microscope techniques to study them in real time.
Fetal exposure to poor nutrition can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes in later life, but the molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Professor Susan Ozanne will study these mechanisms in rats and humans, perhaps laying the groundwork for the development of new therapies or diagnostic tests.
Nitric oxide, a molecule that helps to keep blood vessels healthy, is produced less in people with diabetes. Using experiments on human cells in the lab, Dr Ian Salt will attempt to identify the mechanisms that lead to impaired production of this important molecule.
Leptin is a hormone involved in the control of appetite and metabolism. Dr Mark Smith will investigate the signalling mechanisms in the brain by which leptin influences energy balance and body weight. He will also determine whether blocks on signalling could limit the progression of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
T-reg cells usually prevent the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues, but in Type 1 diabetes they malfunction. Dr Lucy Walker at the University of Birmingham believe that a protein called CTLA-4 is involved and will study its function in people with Type 1.
Hypos are a source of anxiety and concern for many people with diabetes. This grant will fund the purchase of equipment that will support research into the mechanisms of glucose sensing during a hypo and the development of hypo unawareness.
GLP-1 is a potential therapy for diabetes because it increases insulin production and reduces production of glucagon, a hormone that elevates blood glucose. Dr Ramracheya will study islets in the lab to uncover the mechanisms involved in GLP-1 action.
RD Lawrence Fellow Dr David Hodson will use advanced imaging techniques to study the way that beta cells of the pancreas work together to produce insulin. The new insight may potentially lead to new ways of increasing beta cell function in Type 2 diabetes.
Young adults with Type 1 diabetes must be able to accurately estimate their alcohol intake in order to effectively manage their blood glucose levels. Dr Barnard and her team will survey people aged 18-30 with Type 1 to find out how much they drink and to assess their understanding of alcohol content and its impact on glucose control.
Treatments for teenagers with Type 2 diabetes are often unsuccessful and teenagers often find it hard to stick to them. Researchers at the University of Bristol will interview people aged 13-18 who have Type 2 diabetes to explore their views and experiences of different treatment options and inform the development of more acceptable clinical trials.
Naina Patel at the University of Leicester will hold meetings with small groups from South Asian communities in order to make a screening tool easier to use and more towards hard to reach South Asian populations who are at high risk of diabetes.
Using experiments in rats, researchers at the University of Nottingham will work out how a maternal diet rich in energy, fat and sugar during breast-feeding can result in metabolic changes that lead to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes among offspring.