Grants 2005

The Diabetes Research Foundations scientific committee received 56 grant applications this year, which is almost a fifth more than in 2004.

The primary criterion for partitioning of a grant is a high scientific level, but in addition to this the foundation strives for equal support of both clinical and basic research involving type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as support of several different research groups.

The grant applications were of very high quality and equally matched according to the foundations scientific secretary, specialist Leena Moilanen. Especially the level of applications for smaller grants had reached new standards from last year. All five of the two-year grant applications were for exceptional research ventures.

The Diabetes Research Foundation decided, in accordance with the scientific committees proposal, to partition 250 000 euros between 12 researchers. On the 23rd of May the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health organized a reception at The House of the Estates in honour of the Finnish Diabetes Associations anniversary, where the grants were awarded.

The two-year grant of 40 000 euros a year

Docent Maija Wessman, who works in Helsinki at Biomedicum, in the Folkhälsan research centre, was awarded the two-year grant. The research venture spearheaded by her, is named The Outlining of the genes that cause type 1 diabetes and its complications, especially nephropathy.

The starting point for the piece of research is a wide range of material concerning persons with type 1 diabetes that has accumulated during the FinnDiane research programme. The objective is to gather research information that covers 25 percent of all Finnish people with type 1 diabetes as well as their families for careful analysis. So far over 4 000 persons with diabetes have participated in FinnDiane.

Diabetic nephropathy, a kidney disease connected to diabetes, is the most common disease in our country to require dialysis or kidney transplant. By knowing the genes that cause kidney disease, we can develop treatment programmes to help prevent diabetes and its related diseases.

The larger grants of 25 000 euros

Docent Sari Mäkimattila from the University of Helsinki, employed at Biomedicum, was awarded the foundations large grant for her research venture Type 1 diabetes and the effects of metabolic disease on brain metabolism.

Researchers have determined through magnetic spectroscopy, that long-term high blood glucose levels cause atrophy of the neurons and the white substance containing connective tissue in persons with type 1 diabetes. It is a question of a progressing disturbance in the brain, possibly brought about through vascular damage. The research supported by the foundation tries to obtain additional information and confirmation concerning earlier research observations achieved by studying persons with type 1 diabetes, persons with metabolic disease and blood tests. The brain can be a serious, previously unknown target-organ for damage inflicted by diabetes.

Research physician Patricia Tozzo, from the PET centre at the University of Turku was, exceptionally for the second year in a row, awarded a grant for her research venture Interaction of the use and metabolism of the brain, liver and the fatty acids within the fatty tissue, and especially the effects oxidation and exercise have on them.

The purpose of the research is firstly to clarify the interaction of the fatty tissue, liver and brain in fatty acid metabolism. In addition to this, the intention is to lastingly test the assumption that a disturbance in the use of fatty acids causes them to gather in other tissue, and lead to diabetic metabolism. The research also seeks confirmation of the assumption that good physical fitness rectifies the disturbance. The research is done through combining the newest technique suitable for human research, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

Professor Helena Gylling from the University of Kuopio was awarded a grant for her research venture Cholesterol metabolism in type 1 diabetes and the prevention of arterial disease.

Type 1 diabetes involves an increased danger of arterial disease, but only little is known about cholesterol metabolism. Researchers have earlier determined that the absorption rate of cholesterol and plant sterols in type 1 diabetes is very high. The purpose of this piece of research is to determine whether it is possible to improve the health of the arteries in persons with type 1 diabetes through nutriment, in other words, by reducing the absorption of cholesterol and plant sterols. For six months the test subjects enjoy control margarine or sterol ester-enriched margarine, and their cholesterol metabolism and arterial state are measured through ultra sound examination at both the beginning and the end of the period.

The research subject for research physician Eriika Savontaus from the University of Turku is The significance of melanocortines in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Melanocortines are neuropeptides that participate in regulating energy- and blood glucose levels in the brain. If the melanocortines do not function normally, the person gains weight. The research group has developed a population of mice in which the effect of melanocortines has increased. It has been determined that this decreases weight gain with hereditarily obese mice and also improves their glucose balance. The objective of the study is to clarify whether the increased amount of melanocortines effect weight gain when the mice are fed fattening food. The study also revolves around the effect fattening food has on the developing of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome in the mice.

Docent Jussi Pihlajamäki from the University of Kuopio received a large grant for his research venture The effect of bariatric surgery on fattening of the liver and metabolic syndrome.

Fatty liver is connected to obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is a serious problem, which can under extreme circumstances lead to the ruination of the liver. Notable disturbances that make the person vulnerable to arterial disease are connected with fattening of the liver, like increased glucose and cholesterol production in the liver. Bariatric surgery is the most effective form of weight loss, and it is also known to rectify fattening of the liver. The purpose of the study is to determine the commonness of fatty liver, and the effect of bariatric surgery on fattening of the liver in morbidly obese bariatric surgery-patients. By acting on the metabolic disturbances hopefully found in this study, it is in the future possible to reduce the problems of fatty liver in persons with diabetes.

The smaller grants

Sisko Tauriainen, University of Tampere, 9 000 euros

The search for enterovirus- and other virus infections in pre-diabetic pancreatic tissue

Sudhir Kurl, University of Kuopio, 9 000 euros

The connections between metabolic syndrome, cardio respiratory fitness, stress test findings and arteriosclerosis and brain paralysis

Anne Saaristo, University of Helsinki, 9 000 euros

Growth factor therapy in diabetic wounds

Ru Gao, University of Helsinki, 9 000 euros

Regeneration and plasticity of human adult pancreatic islet cells (The study is connected to the transfer development of insulin producing islet cells, and the results can be applied in the Nordic islet-transfer programme.)

Anna-Kaisa Juuti, University of Oulu, 4 000 euros

The occurrence of nighttime breathing disturbances and daytime fatigue, the connection to glucose metabolism disturbances and the factors connected to them.

Kati Kinnunen, University of Kuopio, 5 000 euros

The significance of growth factor VEGF in diabetic optic fundus disease