Grants 2009
This year The Diabetes Research Foundation had 325 000 euros in grant funds. The Foundation received 75 grant applications by the deadline. Five researchers applied primarily for the two-year grant, 34 researchers applied for the 25 000 euro grants and 36 researchers applied for the smaller grants. In all, 19 researchers were awarded grants.
The two-year grant of 50 000 euros a year was awarded professor Markku Laakso from the University of Kuopio for his research venture entitled “The identification of new genes in type 2 diabetes through DNA- and RNA analysis”.
– Thus far just fewer than 20 genes have been found that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. These genes almost exclusively regulate insulin secretion. Despite this, these genes offer an explanation to only a fraction of the heritability of type 2 diabetes. One of the reasons for this is that in addition to DNA mutations, so called epigenetic changes occur in these genes and chromosomal particles can either multiply or be all together absent. In addition, the manifestations of changes in the genes RNA levels contribute to the hereditary tendencies of type 2 diabetes.
The goal of the research venture is to find more varieties of genes that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The research is carried out by mapping the entire genome using over 500 000 snips (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism). The results are verified in a large population study. The aim of this comprehensive approach is to map the significance of genetic changes in heritability of type 2 diabetes.
The 25 000 euro grants
Professor Patrik Finne from the University of Tampere was awarded a grant for his research venture entitled “Factors that affect the survival prognosis of persons with type 1 diabetes receiving active Uremia treatment”.
– The risk of a person with type 1 diabetes suffering from end-stage renal insufficiency within 30 years after being diagnosed as having diabetes is nine percent. This risk has decreased during the last few decades. When dealing with advanced stages of renal insufficiency, the patient’s life can only be saved with active Uremia treatment through dialysis or kidney transplant.
With the help of the Finnish Registry for Kidney Diseases the research aims to clarify the survival prognosis of persons with type 1 diabetes receiving active Uremia treatment. The goal is to clarify if the improved prognosis is a result of more effective dialysis treatment, better diabetes care or better control of other risk factors such as blood pressure and fat metabolism disorders. The results obtained from this research may further improve the prognosis in the future.
Professor Hannu Järveläinen from the University of Turku was awarded a grant for his research venture entitled “Glucose as a regulator of behavior and connective tissue metabolism of smooth muscle cells in blood vessels and endothelial cells”.
– Heightened blood glucose, or heightened blood sugar content plays a decisive role in the origin of blood vessel changes. The research aims to clarify how glucose as an independent factor manages to affect the behavior and connective tissue metabolism of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in blood vessel walls. The research material consists of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells obtained from a human umbilical cord.
The research gathers new information about the mechanisms of molecular levels, in which heightened glucose content is furthering changes in both smaller and larger blood vessels. This information is needed in the development of new methods and medication for the prevention of blood vessel complications in persons with diabetes.
Docent and PhD Marjukka Kolehmainen from the University of Kuopio received a grant for her research venture entitled “The effects of health-furthering diet changes on the manifestation of fatty tissue genes and in vivo metabolism”.
– Earlier research has shown that health-furthering diet changes reduce the development of type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanisms of health-furthering diet changes are rather unknown to us. This research aims to study what effects health-furthering diet changes have on fatty tissue activity on levels of both gene manifestation and metabolism.
The research compares the effects of three different diets: the test subjects in group A eat plenty of fish, whole grain and berries, the test subjects in group B eat plenty of whole grain and the test subjects in group C avoid whole grain, fish and berries in their diet. The test subjects are overweight persons with a slight disturbance in glucose metabolism as well as two other characteristics of metabolic syndrome. The goal is to find the mechanisms that give these foods their effect in tissue. The study of these mechanisms may aid in finding so called early biomarkers for disease development and sensitivity to diet change.
PhD Mari Liljeroos from the University of Turku received a grant for her research venture entitled “Innate immunity as an explanation to auto immunity phenomena and beta cell deterioration heralding type 1 diabetes”.
– The tendency to fall ill with type 1 diabetes is hereditarily predetermined but the fast disease increase strongly suggests that environmental factors are decisive in the outbreak of the illness. The factors that start the auto immunity mechanisms in these instances are in large part still unknown. Thus, no effective prevention method has been developed.
This research aims to clarify the basic mechanisms of innate immunity, in other words resistance, in children who have a genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. The research is especially centered on the study of TLR signal routes that play a central role regarding innate immunity. The identification of micro-organisms that cause infections is performed mainly with the help of TLR proteins. The goal is to clarify which activation mechanisms of innate immunity possibly affect the outbreak of type 1 diabetes. The research strives to find new tracers that, more accurately and sooner, could predict the risk of falling ill with type 1 diabetes and also aid in preventing its development.
MD Päivi Tossavainen, who works at both Cambridge University in England and the University of Oulu, was awarded a grant for her research entitled “Hereditary risk factors in heart and vascular disease in connection to microalbuminuria among young persons with type 1 diabetes”.
– This research centers on mapping the role of hereditary factors that contribute to heart and vascular disease in young persons with diabetes using risk factors and findings discovered in their parents. Families that are taking part in the ongoing study in Great Britain regarding the hereditariness of kidney disease in type 1 diabetes will also be asked to take part in this study. On the basis of the information obtained through this research, young persons with diabetes who are in danger of falling ill can be identified early by combining the knowledge about risks caused by diabetes and hereditary factors. The results can be applied in the improvement of follow-up and treatment procedures of diabetes patients.
MD Kirsi Virtanen, who works at the PET Centre in Turku as well as at the University of Turku, was awarded a grant for her research venture entitled “Sugar and fat metabolism in brown fat tissue and its significance to the energy balance of a healthy and obese person”.
– It is possible that brown fat affects the development of obesity also in humans, and contributes to diseases linked to obesity and insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes. The goal of this research is to clarify the manifestation and metabolism of brown fat tissue in healthy persons of normal weight and in the development of obesity. Sugar and fat metabolism is measured through PET/CT imaging and fat tissue manifestation through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The imaging is carried out during a cold pressor test in order to activate brown fat metabolism, and the cold-induced metabolism is compared to the metabolism induced by warmth or insulin stimulation.
Preliminary results show that brown fat is active in cold temperatures, and that the use of sugar induced by the cold pressor test is manifold compared to tests performed in warm temperatures.
Smaller grants
Hakkarainen Antti, undergraduate (science), Helsinki University Hospital, 3 900 euros
The modern MRI procedures for liver imaging
Heikkilä Outi, L.M., Folkhälsan Research Center and the University of Helsinki, 6 000 euros
The effects of type 1 diabetes and metabolic risk factors on brain sugar content and metabolism
Huttunen Suvi, M.Sc., undergraduate (medicine), University of Turku, 4 500 euros
The reactions of Enterovirus Coxsackie B4 in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis
Hyvönen Mervi, L.M., the Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, 9 000 euros
The insulin reaction of epithelial cells in kidney glomerulus and its significance to the development of diabetic nephropathy
Kinnunen Kati, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston and the University of Kuopio, 7 200 euros
The significance of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in diabetic retinal disease pathogenesis
Koivikko Minna, L.M., the University of Oulu 7 500 euros
The registration of QT-dynamics and beat-to-beat variations connected to spontaneous hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes
Koskinen Anna, L.M., The Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, 4 500 euros
The effects of gestational diabetes on fetal and newborn lung development – an experimental study
Kyllönen Laura, L.M., Folkhälsan Research Center and the University of Helsinki, 4 500 euros
Factors that affect the prognosis for persons with type 1 diabetes after a kidney transplant
Luopajärvi Kristiina, L.M., University of Helsinki, 4 500 euros
The development of early immunity in children who are genetically susceptible to type 1 diabetes
Makkonen Janne, L.M., the Medical Research Institute Minerva, University of Helsinki, 9 000 euros
Fat tissue inflammation, liver fat content and insulin resistance in humans
Paalanen Milla, M.Sc., University of Helsinki, 6 000 euros
Protein kinase C (PKC) –isoenzymes in muscle cell insulin resistance induced by free fatty acids
Soro-Paavonen Aino, M.D., Folkhälsan Research Center and the University of Helsinki, 8 000 euros
AGE –products (Advanced glycation end products) and the activation of the renin-angiotensin system as the basis for diabetic complications