Our research projects

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.

Women who develop type 2 diabetes under the age of 40 have a greater risk of complications during pregnancy, including stillbirth. Professor Claire Meek will explore if and how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can help these women to have safer pregnancies. This research could reshape future care for women with early-onset type 2 diabetes, helping to make sure they have access to the tools they need.

Scientists have found a protein, called LRG1, plays a role in the early stages of eye damage in people with diabetes. Dr Giulia De Rossi wants to know how exactly this protein causes problems and if their new treatment that blocks it could help prevent eye damage. This could take us closer to better treatments that could be given earlier to protect the sight of people with diabetes. 

The current test for gestational diabetes can be inaccurate, expensive, inconvenient, and unappealing for many women. Professor Claire Meek wants to develop a new test that could tackle these problems. A better test could help more women with gestational diabetes to get an easier diagnosis, as well as the support they need as they go through pregnancy. 

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss. People who have had this condition for more than five years may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Karis Little aims to better understand the connection between these two conditions by studying the systems in the brain and eye that remove waste. Better understanding what retinopathy and Alzheimer’s disease have in common could provide insights into how retinopathy develops and help identify new treatments.

Our cells have engines, called mitochondria, which power them. In insulin-making cells, the mitochondria tell the cells how and when to release insulin. When blood sugar levels are high, for example when someone has type 2 diabetes, this process stops working properly. Dr Aida Martinez-Sanchez wants to investigate why this happens by studying how the gene Mtfp1 plays a part how beta cell mitochondria behave. Understanding this could help researchers to develop better treatments that may stop type 2 diabetes from progressing.

Type 1 diabetes develops when a person’s immune system attacks and destroys their insulin-making beta cells. Dr Leete will study pancreas samples from people with type 1 diabetes to figure out why the immune system turns on beta cells, and how this process may differ between people, especially those diagnosed at different ages. In the future this could lead to more personalised treatments to delay or prevent type 1 diabetes.

Beta cells release insulin into the blood stream, but this complex process isn’t well understood. Dr Benoit Hastoy wants to investigate the process in more detail, to try and improve the effectiveness of existing treatments for people with type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. People can experience high levels of stigma linked to the condition, which can have a negative effect on their mental and physical health. Dr Rita Forde and Prof Angus Forbes will work with women who have experience of gestational diabetes and healthcare professionals. Together, they'll develop communication tools that aim raise awareness of and combat gestational diabetes- related stigma. 

Lower levels of vitamin C have been linked with obesity and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Professor Jon Whitehead will explore how vitamin C gets into fats cells and if more vitamin C inside these cells helps insulin to work better. Understanding this could help us find out if vitamin C supplements could become a new strategy to help treat type 2 diabetes in the future.