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NORTHUMBRIAUNIVERSITY
RESEARCH UPDATE
Linda Wood, Regional Manager
Julie Nattrass, Regional Fundraising Manager
Research at Diabetes UK
Past research successes
Research in progress
How you can get involved
Today’s talk
Research Strategy Context
Diabetes UK-funded research in a wider context
Limited in scope but not without ambition
Priority is to meet unmet needs of people living with
diabetes and at high risk of diabetes
Must underpin the three key priorities set by our
Board of Trustees
Research considers the diversity of people living
with diabetes
In 2012 Diabetes UK will spend around £6 million on research. The research portfolio is currently valued at just over £20 million
We do not receive any statutory government funding for research
All funds for research comes from donations to Diabetes UK (including Adopt-A-Project, Regular Giving and Legacies)
Funding research
A brief history ofresearch success
1934: Diabetic Association founded(but our name was changed to the British Diabetic Association in 1967
and to Diabetes UK in 2000)
1935: Diabetes UK awards its first research grant, of £50, to
Dr Hans Kosterlitz, University of Aberdeen.
1934 1935
1978: Measurement of blood glucose
levels at home shown to improve glucose
control
1978: Tests demonstrate safety
and feasibility of insulin pumps for the
first time
1977: Diabetes UK purchased the UK's first artificial pancreas
to enable key research to continue.
1977 1978
1986: Retinal camera revealed as reliable
method of screening for retinopathy
1986: First specialised Diabetic Foot Centre
established with Diabetes UK funds
1986
2010: Retinopathy no longer the leading
cause of blindness in Newcastle thanks to
screening
2010
You can help us find out!
Where next?
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS…
Artificial pancreas Dr Roman Horvorka of the University of Cambridge)has
been funded to make the first generation of ‘closed loop’ system – artificial pancreas
Type 1 diabetes results when the immune system attacks healthy insulin producing cells in islets of pancreas
Professor Mark Peakman and Dr Tim Tree at King’s College London are investigating precise mechanisms and targets involved in this attack
Discovered components of the immune system that forms a natural defence against attack on islets
Vaccine trials for Type 1 diabetes
Defences seem to be overwhelmed in people with Type 1 diabetes, but fully intact in people without Type 1
Professor Peakman has now developed a therapy than can bolster these natural defences
Now beginning clinical trials …very early days
Vaccine trials for Type 1 diabetes
Stem cells + islet transplants
Stem cells + islet transplants
Stem cells + islet transplants
Experiments in the lab and in mice with diabetes will allow the researchers to test the effectiveness of kidney stem cells at improving islet transplants
Project could help improve the design of islet transplantation methods and improve the treatment of people with Type 1
Intensive dieting
Professor Roy Taylor of
Newcastle University looking
at reproducing the effects of
surgery by intensive dieting
11 people who had diabetes
for less than 4 years, with BMI
of around 33.
Diet of 600 calories per day for
8 weeks
After just one week, fasting blood glucose levels had returned to normal
However, when participants returned to normal eating – all put on weight
3 months after the end of the trial, ten people were re-tested and 7 were still free from diabetes
Reversal of Type 2 diabetes appears to be a result of decreasing excess fat around liver and pancreas
Intensive dieting – results so far...
Nitrate and exercise for Type 2
Nitrate and exercise for Type 2
40 people with Type 2 diabetes Will drink beetroot juice either
with or without nitrates Short walking and cycling tests
to measure oxygen consumption Could identify readily-available
treatment to make exercise easier for people with Type 2
Important to realise that a cure for diabetes might not come directly from diabetes research
Developments and discoveries take place in other areas of science and medicine
It is the application of these developments to diabetes that might yield dividends
It is impossible to predict how or when a cure may be found
The search for a cure
“Our discovery of DNA fingerprinting was of course totally accidental … but at least we had the sense to realise what we had stumbled upon."
Sir Alec Jeffreys (1950 - )Geneticist
Inventor of DNA fingerprinting which has revolutionised forensic science & the criminal justice system
Important to bear in mind...
• Diabetes UK receives no government funding
• We rely entirely on subscriptions and donations to fund the work we do
• In 2011 Diabetes UK raised £29.53 million
Why we fundraise
• Participate in eventsWe have a number of walks, runs, cycle rides, bungee jumps and much, much more planned for 2013
• Volunteer at eventsWe welcome any help, be it holding a collecting can for a couple of hours to marshalling or helping at a registration desk
• Help promote our eventsHelp us spread the word by putting up posters in your locality, let local companies, clubs and groups know about our events
Support fundraising events
Get involvedHold your own fundraising event
• Organise a local walk or pub crawl• Carry out a street collection• Hold a party on World Diabetes Day
There are lots of fun and creative things you can do to raise money for Diabetes UK, and we will support you every step of the way.
Current Opportunities
• Volunteer at our Street Collection in Newcastle – Thursday 29 November
• Volunteer as an Events Volunteer – helping at Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow events across the North East or at fundraising walks and runs
