Our research projects

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. 

Diabetic foot ulcers are a common complication of all types of diabetes. Professor Reeves has found that a new type of ‘smart’ shoe insole technology, which raises an alarm when levels of pressure on the feet are too high, can reduce the risk of foot ulcers. To build more evidence on the technology’s effectiveness he will compare different types of smart insoles to find which is best at reducing high pressure. This research could help people with diabetes get the best possible care to protect their foot health.

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.

Some people with type 2 diabetes might have differences in how their brains get messages about sweet flavours. Dr Sally Eldeghaidy wants to find out more about why this is, by looking for signals in brain scans. Her project could lead to a better understanding about how sweet things taste to people with type 2, and make it easier for them to choose healthier food and increase their chance of putting their type 2 diabetes into remission.

In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance means that people can’t properly use the insulin they make, causing blood sugar levels to go up. Professor Gould will research whether these insulin problems are due to mystery factors in the blood. This may lead to new blood tests that can predict if someone is likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The tests may also pick up whether there are specific subtypes of type 2 diabetes that are more likely to respond to certain 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.

MODY is a rare form of diabetes caused by a change in a single gene. But there’s much scientists don’t yet know about the condition, such as the exact genes involved and whether it’s linked with other medical problems. Dr Michael Weedon will use a large health database, containing detailed genetic information and biological samples from over half a million people, to answer key questions about MODY. This knowledge could transform care for people with MODY and help scientists to develop new diabetes treatments.

Professor Vivien Coates will study the experiences of women with diabetes who are going through menopause to understand its impact on blood sugars and diabetes management, and where support is missing. In the future this could help health services to provide the best possible care for women with diabetes to support them with the unique challenges the menopause can bring.

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.

There are a number of inherited genetic conditions causing very low body fat stores. One of these is congenital generalised lipodystrophy type 2 which can also lead to type 2 diabetes. Dr Mcilroy’s shown that gene therapy can treat this condition so he’s now going to study it in more detail. He’s hoping this knowledge will lead to better treatments for type 2 diabetes.