Our research projects

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.

High blood sugar levels can lead to damage to our eyes, known as retinopathy. Professor Karl Matter thinks that a protein called MarvelD3, which helps cells to stick together in blood vessels, might hold some answers. His research could give us valuable new insights to help develop innovative approaches to protect blood vessels and prevent sight loss in people with diabetes.
 

Many people with type 2 diabetes also experience depression. But we don’t know which existing diabetes treatments could also treat depression in people living with both conditions. Dr Gao is providing much-needed evidence to fill this knowledge gap. Her work could help to shape more personalised care so people get treatments that help them manage both conditions, without needing extra medications.  

Pregnant women with early-onset type 2 diabetes are 3-4 times more likely to have stillbirth and newborn death than women without diabetes. Currently, there are limited self-management programmes available to support people with early-onset type 2 diabetes - and even less for pregnant women with the condition. Professor Meek wants to design a new self-management programme for this group to provide vital support before, during, and after pregnancy to protect the health of mothers and their babies. 

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.