World Health Organisations estimate 300 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes over the next twenty years :
Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in the western world, with the World Health Organisation estimating that some 300 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes over the next twenty years. Research groups within the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (PABS) at the University of Brighton are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as developing novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of both forms of the disease.
- Use of adult and embryonic stem cells to generate new and abundant sources of replacement insulin-producing cells
- Novel models to better understand the link between islet cell apoptosis and the onset and progression of Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90% of patients and is closely associated with the current worldwide obesity epidemic. Patients with T2D no longer respond properly to insulin and eventually lose their insulin-producing beta cells. Researchers in PABS are currently developing:
- New treatment modalities for T2D and its complications including:
- TZD drugs including Rosiglitazone and metformin
- Structured aerobic exercise - New insights into the islet killing effects of saturated fats and oxidative stress
- Identification of the genetic causes of T2D
- Understanding of the impact of nutrition during pregnancy
Complications of Diabetes
Complications arising from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes include kidney and heart disease. These are likely to have more impact in future as people are living longer.
Researchers at the university of Brighton are studying
- Renal disease, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress and novel antioxidants [PKChatterjee, JM]
- Myocardial and endothelial cell dysfunction and prevention by pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase [JM]
Research within the Diabetes theme is currently funded by Diabetes UK, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (USA), the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, BBSRC, the NHS R&D Fund, FP5/FP6 (EU), Interreg IIIIA, the Wellcome Trust and the South East England Development Agency. The translational relevance and clinical significance of work from the group is reflected in increased partnering with industrial collaborators, including Inotek Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Astra-Zeneca and Medtronic, with scientific and clinical innovation from the group already significantly informing on the more effective treatment of patients with diabetes.
Progress in the Diabetes division continues to be enhanced and expanded through strategic national (Exeter, Newcastle, Bristol, Glasgow, Plymouth, Sussex) and international (USA, South Africa, Sweden, Ireland, Germany) academic scientific collaboration, as well as strategic links with local academic and healthcare organisations.
