Our research projects

The brain has an important role in measuring and controlling blood sugar levels. In people with diabetes this can go wrong when the brain chooses a level that’s too high. Dr Clemence Blouet wants to find out if there’s a way of developing new treatments that can reprogramme the brain to keep blood sugar at safer levels.

There are a number of inherited genetic conditions causing very low body fat stores. One of these is congenital generalised lipodystrophy type 2 which can also lead to type 2 diabetes. Dr McIlroy’s shown that gene therapy can treat this condition so he’s now going to study it in more detail. He’s hoping this knowledge will lead to better treatments for type 2 diabetes. 

The use of antipsychotics in children has increased dramatically in recent decades. In adults, these drugs are linked with a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But we don’t know how they affect type 2 risk in children and young people. Dr Lau will study NHS medical records from those treated with antipsychotics and will search for risk factors of type 2 in this group. This could give us better ways to help prevent type 2 diabetes in children who take antipsychotics.

There’s evidence that common viral infections in children may play a part in triggering the immune system attack at the root of type 1 diabetes. But we don’t yet understand how or why only some children are affected. Dr Kasra Bahadori will study children’s immune responses to uncover missing pieces of the puzzle, with the aim of developing treatments that could prevent viruses from triggering type 1 diabetes.

Self-management programmes can empower people with type 2 diabetes to manage their condition and improve their health. But current programmes aren’t suited to the unique needs of younger people living with type 2 diabetes. Dr Michelle Hadjiconstantinou is testing a new digital self-management programme designed for and with this group and working out how it could be slotted into NHS care. This could ensure younger people get the tailored support they need to live well with the condition.  

Professor Vivien Coates will study the experiences of women with diabetes who are going through menopause to understand its impact on blood sugars and diabetes management, and where support is missing. In the future this could help health services to provide the best possible care for women with diabetes to support them with the unique challenges the menopause can bring.

Type 1 diabetes affects cells in the pancreas that protect against dangerous low blood sugar levels (hypos). Dr Thomas Hill will uncover why these cells stop working and test existing drugs that could restore the body’s natural defence against hypos. This could make insulin treatment safer and help people with type 1 diabetes avoid the dangers and daily challenges caused by hypos.