Grants 2008
In 2008 the Diabetes Research Foundation received a total of 74 grant applications. The amount of applications has grown every year, and now there was an increase of 14 percent compared to the previous year. Six researchers applied primarily for the two-year grant, 26 researchers applied for the larger grants and 42 for the smaller ones.
The foundations administration awarded 7 larger and 12 smaller grants. In all, 325 000 euros in grant funding was distributed.
Our largest two-year grant – 50 000 euros/year – was awarded professor Matti Uusitupa from the University of Kuopio.
Professor Uusitupas research subject is “Lifestyle health effects in metabolic syndrome – a systems biology approach”. The goal of the research is to find lifestyle-based procedures that can be utilized in prevention of long-term illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, in persons with higher risk of illness. The research shows lifestyle health effects on molecular, tissue and metabolic levels, as well as in the body as a whole. By combining these levels it is possible to find indicators in the early stages of illness, and it is then possible to take effective measures in order to prevent the illness from progressing.
The larger grants, 15 000 – 25 000 euros
Fagerholm Veronica, M.Sc., PET Center, Turku, 20 000 euros
Fagerholm was awarded a grant for her research entitled “PET indicators for pancreatic beta cell imaging: DTB2 (dihydrotetrabenazine)”. Type 1 diabetes is preceded by deterioration of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Beta cell reduction is also apparent in type 2 diabetes. The main goal of the research venture is to develop a procedure, by which the beta cell amount can be measured externally with the help of PET indicators (PET = Positron Emission Tomography). The procedure could be applied in illness definition and follow-up of diabetes medication effectiveness.
Herzig Karl-Heinz, professor, University of Oulu, 15 000 euros
Herzigs research venture entitled “How exercise intensity affects glucose tolerance” is connected to the prevention of type 2 diabetes through exercise. The goal of the research is to determine the effects of exercise in persons who are in the preliminary stage of diabetes. The research will last three months and involve 60 test subjects, half of whom will function as a reference group while the rest take part in one-hour exercises three times a week. The forms of exercise are walking, running and jumping. The effect and amount of the exercise done by the test subjects is measured with a pedometer. The research aims to clarify how exercise affects blood sugar and insulin levels.
Otonkoski Timo, professor, University of Helsinki, 25 000 euros
Otonkoski was awarded a grant for his research entitled “The regulation of beta cell growth and regeneration through the EGF receptor”, which is focused on the curability of type 1 diabetes. The pancreatic beta cells are the only source of insulin, and therefore play a central role regarding diabetes. The research groups’ long-term goal is to find ways to restore insulin-producing beta cell activity in the system. This could happen through either cell transfer or by accelerating beta cell renewal (regeneration). Through the new model for genetic transformation in mice, the research strives to study whether or not it is possible to improve beta cell mass and its function in order to prevent or cure diabetes. In addition to this, the researchers study the use of EGF growth factors when beta cells are produced from other cell types in the human pancreas.
Tuomi Tiinamaija, docent, Biomedicum, Helsinki, 25 000 euros
Tuomi was awarded a grant for her research regarding ”Unorthodoxal insulin deficient subtypes of diabetes: causes and effects”. In general, diabetes is categorized into two main groups: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. At least one in five diabetics have a deviation of these main types and often a significant, although not complete insulin deficiency. Because type 1 and type 2 diabetes often appears within the same family, it can be concluded that the same genes partly expose people to both types of diabetes. The research is focused on families where either type 2 diabetes or both types of diabetes are evident.
The research aims to clarify the commonality of genes that expose people to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and how these genes predict diabetes evolution. In addition to this, the researchers are seeking a deeper clarification of genetic connections to the illness, among other things the degree of insulin deficiency.
Vaarala Outi, professor, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, 25 000 euros
Vaaralas research subject is focused on diabetes evolvement in children, and entitled “the IL-17 reaction and the intestinal immune system at the beginning of type 1 diabetes”. Her research group has shown earlier, that the intestinal immune system in children with type 1 diabetes differs from others. The immune reaction to cow insulin found in nutriments cross-reacts with human insulin, and the intestinal immune system plays a central role in this. Early observations show, that especially IL-17 cytokine activation has increased in small intestine samples taken from children with type 1 diabetes. The purpose of the research is now to clarify the evolvement of tolerance and IL-17 reactions toward insulin. Understanding the changes in the intestinal immune system helps to develop diabetes care and find new ways to prevent diabetes.
Kiviranta Hannu, Ph.D., the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, 20 000 euros
Kiviranta was awarded a grant for his research entitled “Exposure to permanent organic environmental toxins and the connection to type 2 diabetes”. Along with lifestyle and hereditary aspects, environmental aspects may also play a part in the birth of type 2 diabetes. During the last few years the research has shown, that type 2 diabetes and its preliminary stages are connected with permanent organic environmental toxins (POP). The research aims to clarify the connection between measured levels of POP combinations and type 2 diabetes and its preliminary stage, as well as insulin metabolism disorder. The target group consists of persons born in Helsinki during 1934-1944, who have supplied a serum sample for this research.
The researchers also have previously analyzed information submitted by the same target group regarding factors in connection with diabetes. The target group is well suited for the research because a great deal of POP combination levels began increasing in the environment during the 1940´s, and peaked in the 1960´s. Based on the test results, persons with greater risk of becoming ill can be directed to choosing the right kind of nutriments. The results may change the permitted amount of environmental toxins in groceries.
The smaller grants, 5 000 – 10 000 euros
Arkkola Tuula, MHS, University of Oulu, 9 000 euros
Types of diets among pregnant women and their connection to the development of beta cell autoimmunity in the child
Jaakkola Ulriikka, MD, University of Turku, 9 000 euros
The significance of neuropeptide Y in atherosclerosis: metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms in obesity and type 2 diabetes
Juuti Anna-Kaisa, ML, University of Oulu, 5 000 euros
The appearance of sleep disorder and daytime fatigue and the connection to glucose metabolism disorder, the risk factors of heart and artery disease, depression and mortality rate
Kallio Milla, ML, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 9 000 euros
Carotid artery disease of the lower limbs in persons with type 1 diabetes
Kotronen Anna, M.Sc., University of Helsinki, 8 000 euros
The identification of liver fattening through lipidomics and metabolomics
Lassander Maarit, M.A. (psychology), University of London, 9 000 euros
The quality of life regarding our children and youths as part of diabetes care
Lehtoranta Lara, ML, University of Turku, 9 000 euros
Blood circulation in a diabetics` fetus
Lipponen Kati, M.Sc., University of Turku, 9 000 euros
The many effects HLA-genes have on autoimmunity in connection with type 1 diabetes: the regulation of β-cell specific appearance and progression
Lundbom Jesper, M.Sc., Helsinki University Central Hospital, 4 000 euros.
Specifying the fatty acid consistency in human triglyceride through proton spectroscopy In Vivo
Oikarinen Sami, M.Sc., University of Tampere, 9 000 euros
Enteroviruses and type 1 diabetes: the epidemiology and genetics of potentially diabetogenic viruses
Wasenius Niko, M.Sc., University of Helsinki, 6 000 euros
The quality, amount and intensity of exercise intervention and the connection to possible changes in glucose tolerance, weight and body consistency in men with weakened glucose tolerance (IGT)
Winell Klas, ML, Center for Public Health, Helsinki, 9 000 euros
Has the prognosis for the people with diabetes improved?