Our research projects

Type 2 diabetes is complex and some people’s risk of it is harder to spot. A key hidden factor is where fat is stored in the body, not simply how much there is. Genetics play a major role in this, but we still don’t fully understand how certain genetic changes cause fat to be stored in harmful places, like around vital organs. Dr Kashyap Amratlal Patel and their PhD student are investigating these genetic clues so we can better identify people with this hidden risk, enabling earlier and more personalised support to prevent type 2. 

People with diabetes are three times more likely to go to hospital at some stage in life than people without diabetes. Of these, many will be very unwell in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We know that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) tech reduces low blood sugars in people with diabetes who aren’t in hospital. Dr Avari will explore whether CGM can prevent severely low blood sugars in critically ill people with diabetes in hospital. This research could make CGM use part of routine care to protect the health of this vulnerable group.

People of Black African and Caribbean descent are more than three times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as White European populations. Research also shows that the way the condition develops can differ between different ethnic groups.  

Dr Gráinne Whelehan will investigate why by looking at differences in how quickly insulin is cleared from the blood and whether diet can influence this. Understanding this process could help to tailor care and improve type 2 prevention and management for people in Black African and Caribbean communities. 

Transplants of insulin-producing beta cells from donors into people with type 1 diabetes, called ‘islet transplants’, have been shown to temporarily remove the need for insulin injections in many cases. However, there aren’t enough beta cells available for everyone who needs a transplant. Dr Elisa De Franco wants to find the genes that control the development of beta cells, by studying babies born with neonatal diabetes, to see if these genes could be used to make beta cells in the lab.

Diabetes can cause many complications including foot ulcers. These can lead to a significantly higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and a shortened lifespan. Professor Khunti and his team are researching the best way to reduce these so that people with diabetes and foot ulcers can have healthier and longer lives. 

Some people with diabetes go on to develop problems with the nerves in their feet. This is known as peripheral neuropathy and can affect safe driving. Professor Marple-Horvat is investigating if a driving stimulator and feedback system can help people with peripheral neuropathy get back to driving safely again, and keep their independence.

Severe insulin resistance is a key feature of a rare form of diabetes, caused by genetic changes which affects the structure of the insulin receptor. Dr Gemma Brierley will explore whether antibodies can be redesigned to improve the function of the insulin receptor. This research could improve our understanding of how a rare form of diabetes develops and and lead to life-saving new treatments. 

Many people who use metformin to manage their type 2 diabetes, often need to start on a second medication to control blood sugar levels. Dr Beall wants to better understand the effect of metformin in the brain and why this may cause some people with type 2 to stop responding to it over time. He’ll also shed new light on if and how metformin may have anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. In the future this could help us to understand who is more likely to need an add on treatment and open-up new ways to keep the brain healthy in people with diabetes. 

Scientists think that gestational diabetes could be split into two main subtypes. Dr Sara White will find out if measurements of babies from ultrasound scans could be used to identify which subtype of gestational diabetes a woman has. This could help doctors to tailor and improve care, potentially reducing the risk of pregnancy complications for hundreds of thousands of women in the UK every year.