Understanding The Early-life Pathways For Adult Type 2 Diabetes Using Existing Data From Seven Cohorts Of The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,419.00
Summary
This project will allow us to determine the role that child factors play in the development of diabetes. We will do this using information that has been collected from individuals at several ages extending from childhood to adulthood, somewhat like the “Up” TV series. The project’s findings could lead to improvements in the way we identify people who are at risk of having adult diabetes. By doing so, we could begin programs to stop the young from being struck down by this debilitating disease.
Targeting RCAN1 To Treat Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,468.00
Summary
Obesity and impaired insulin secretion are significant contributors to Type 2 diabetes. In this project we demonstrate that a protein called RCAN1 contributes to both fat mass and insulin secretion and that this contribution is exacerbated in obesity and in Type 2 diabetes. We will identify how RCAN1 controls these major metabolic pathways with outcomes including the development of new therapeutics for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Impact Of Islet Beta Cell Heparan Sulfate In Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,777.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disease which ultimately leads to the death of insulin-producing islet beta cells, elevated blood sugar levels and daily insulin injections. Since beta cells require the complex sugar heparan sulfate (HS) for survival, we will investigate whether beta cell failure in T2D results from defective HS production. HS replacement will be evaluated as a new therapeutic strategy for preserving beta cell function and preventing the need for insulin injections.