Grants 2016
This year the Diabetes Research Foundation is celebrating 40 years, in honor of which we awarded the largest grant total in our history, 500 000 euros. The grants are awarded in support of premium Finnish diabetes research.
The chairman of the Diabetes Research Foundation’s scientific committee, professor Jussi Pihlajamäki, estimates that the received applications are beginning to display a generational shift.
– The level of the applications was high again this year. We are witnessing young researchers rising to an international level, in which the Diabetes Research Foundation may play a pivotal role, says Pihlajamäki.
The Foundation received a record number of 110 applications this year, of which 21 research ventures were awarded grants. The majority of the applications, 86 in all, were centered on type 2 diabetes research. The Foundation received 34 applications centered on type 1 diabetes research. A single application may be centered on several types of diabetes.
The majority of the applications, in total almost half, were received from the Universities of Helsinki and Eastern Finland. The second largest amount of applications was received from the Universities of Turku and Oulu.
The grants were decided on by the Diabetes Research Foundation’s board of directors, on the basis of proposals made by the scientific committee.
The largest grant for obesity research
Associate professor Kirsi Pietiläinen was awarded the largest grant of 100 000 Euros. Pietiläinen, who works out of the University of Helsinki, and her research group are working to clarify how dieting improves glucose metabolism. The research aims to aid in the development of new treatment measures for type 2 diabetes by comparing bariatric surgeries and the diabetes drug liraglutide.
The first of the two 50 000 Euro grants was awarded docent Sirpa Loukovaara from the University of Helsinki, and the second was awarded professor Markku Savolainen from the University of Oulu.
The research group lead by docent Loukovaara is researching both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The group studies severe proliferative retinopathy. It is the most severe retinal disease, where a person’s sight is threatened by vascular remodeling of the eye. The goal of the research is long-term improvement of sight prognosis and treatment measures for persons with diabetes.
Professor Savolainen and his research group are identifying heart and vascular disease risk factors in persons with metabolic syndrome. The research is focused on people who have made a successful lifestyle change. The basis for the research venture is “Onnikka”, a lifestyle counseling procedure developed in Oulu that can be found online. The counseling aims to decrease the risk of persons with metabolic syndrome developing type 2 diabetes.
Two-year grant, 100 000 euros
Kirsi Pietiläinen, associate professor, D.Med.Sc., M.Food Sc., HUS the Department of Gastroenterology and the University of Helsinki
How does dieting improve glucose metabolism? A comparison of bariatric surgeries and liraglutide.
The grant awarded associate professor Pietiläinen also includes the following personal grants: Ulla Kettunen, Lic. Med., 12 300 euros, Antti Hakkarainen, Th. M., 4 100 euros, Sini Heinonen, Lic. Med., 4 900 euros and Sari Räsänen, M. Food Sc., 4 100 euros.
The research aims to clarify, by which mechanisms dieting improves glucose metabolism. The research may in the future aid in developing new type 2 diabetes treatment methods.
Dieting is an effective way of treating and preventing type 2 diabetes, in which bariatric surgeries especially have shown their worth. New surgical techniques have recently been developed, and the most promising of these is the simplified form of traditional gastric bypass surgery (RYGBP), the mini-gastric bypass surgery (SAGBP).
SAGBP looks to improve diabetic metabolism more efficiently than RYGBP. This research clarifies for the first time, through which mechanisms this happens. The hypothesis of the research group is that intestinal remodeling, increase of bile acid and gastrointestinal GLPI hormones as well as a more favorable composition of gut microbiota, are essential for glucose metabolism intensification, and that these differences explain the effectiveness of SAGBP in comparison with RYGBP.
As an added hypothesis, the group assumes that chronic stress, which has a negative effect on glucose metabolism, is eased especially well among SAGBP patients. In addition to the SAGBP (roughly 60) and RYGBP (roughly 60) groups, the research venture also compares a group (roughly 30) that has lost weight through VLCD and the drug liraglutide (GLP1-analogue). The comparison will show us the significance of changes in intestinal anatomy, and mere dieting, on the normalization of metabolic syndrome. The research also studies adipose and muscle tissue metabolism.
Two-year grant, 50 000 euros
Sirpa Loukovaara, docent, D.Med.Sc., the University of Helsinki and HUCH Department of Ophthalmology
Severe proliferative retinopathy – potential new drug development targets
The grant awarded docent Loukovaara and her research group also contains the following personal grants: Ani Korhonen, M.Sc., 4 950 euros, Erica Gucciardo, M.Sc., 12 300 euros.
Findings published by the group in 2015 indicate that pathophysiological mechanisms connected to lymphangiogenesis and/or lymphatic endothelial cell differentiation, are part of the vascular remodeling evident in severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
No reports of lymphangiogenesis in PDR eyes have surfaced prior to the group’s findings. In light of the group’s discoveries, the mechanisms of lymphangiogenesis could be of significance in other severe ophthalmopathies connected to inflammation and/or lack of oxygen.
The research group aims to further specify the aforementioned pathofysiological PDR mechanisms (i.a. through tissue and cell culture techniques, ex-vivo culture, TEM/confocal microscopy).
The vitreoretinal surgery unit at HUS Eye and Ear Hospital is a national specialized care unit where PDR patients receive treatment. By specifying regulatory mechanisms on a molecular level that affect the pathogenesis of retinopathy, the research strives toward concrete benefits with also clinical diabetes patients in mind. The goal is long-term improvement of the prognosis and treatment measures regarding the sight of persons with diabetes.
The character of the research venture is translational and multidisciplinary, which inhabits active researcher training. The project began in 2010 and has been funded by several various foundations.
Markku Savolainen, professor, the University of Oulu, Research Unit of Internal Medicine
Heart and vascular disease risk factors among persons with metabolic syndrome after a successful lifestyle change.
The grant awarded professor Savolainen and his research group also contains the following personal grants: Terhi Jokelainen, MSE, 12 000 euros and a researcher to be named later, 12 000 euros.
New lifestyle counseling methods are needed in order to permanently diminish the danger of diabetes caused by metabolic syndrome. Excess weight and belly fat tend to be difficult to shake. Through the PrevMetSyn study affiliated with this application, a new method has been developed: “Onnikka” is an Internet program based on so-called persuasive technology (persuasive design, Behavior Change Support System). It increases the effect of group counseling: the patients lose an average of 11 lbs, and based on follow-up studies they maintain this result for two years.
According to the research group’s hypothesis, the new group counseling methods together with tailor-made ICT support change people’s lifestyle and prevent diabetes. This base hypothesis has been proven accurate through two years of follow-up.
The two-year follow-up of the PrevMetSyn study was also unusually long, which makes it possible through psychological feature profiling to predict an individual’s initial ability to change their lifestyle, and thus concentrate the counseling on specific individuals. Pre-profiling saves health care costs if specific counseling is only given people who benefit from it.
The research specifies changes in biological risk factors through metabonomic, cytokine/adipokine and miRNA profiling.
One-year grants, roughly 25 000 euros
Diana Toivola, docent, Ph. D, the University of Turku, 25 000 euros
The new significance of stress protein keratins as beta-cell health protectors and insulin regulators
The grant awarded docent Toivola and her research group also contains the following personal grants: Diana Toivola, docent, 11 500 euros, Angeli Kumari-Illieva, M.Sc., 1 650 euros, Julia Misiorek, M.Sc., 2 450 euros and Anup Shresta, M.Sc., 1 650 euros.
Kaisa Ivaska, docent, Ph.D., the University of Turku, Institute of Biomedicine, Cell Biology and Anatomy, 25 000 euros
Diabetes and skeletal structure: hormones that regulate bone mass open up new aspects of diabetes diagnostics
The grant awarded docent Ivaska and her research group contains the following personal grant: a researcher to be named later, 12 300 euros.
Sami Heikkinen, docent, Ph.D., the University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Biomedicine, Kuopio, 25 000 euros
TCF7L2-driven gene expression and regulatory SNPs in the liver and type 2 diabetes
The grant awarded docent Sami Heikkinen and his research group contains the following personal grant: Saresh Raju, M.sc., 8 200 euros.
Timo Lakka, professor, M.D., the University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, Kuopio, 25 000 euros
Identification and prevention of type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases from childhood and on
Jukka Hakkola, professor, M.D., the University of Oulu, Research Unit of Biomedicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, 25 000 euros
The mechanisms explaining low vitamin D levels among persons with diabetes
The grant awarded professor Hakkola and his research group contains the following personal grant: Mahmoud Elkhwanky, M.Sc., 12 300 euros.
Terho Lehtimäki, professor, M.D., the University of Tampere and Fimlab Laboratories, 25 000 euros
Long-term epigenetic profile changes and the risk of diabetes
The grant awarded professor Lehtimäki and his research group contains the following personal grants: Nina Mononen, Ph.D., 14 700 euros and a researcher to be named later, 8 200 euros.
Vesa Olkkonen, professor, Ph.D., the University of Helsinki, Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum, 25 000 euros
Angiopoietine-like protein 8, a central metabolism regulator: the mechanisms of gene insulin regulation in adipose tissue
The grant awarded professor Olkkonen and his research group contains the following personal grant: Nidhina Haridas Pachakkil Antharaparambath, Ph.D., 21 150 euros
Kati Hanhineva, docent, Ph.D., Institute of Public Health and Nutrition, the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 25 000 euros
Role of microbiota produced indolepropionic acid and particular lipids in the prevention of type 2 diabetes
The grant awarded docent Kati Hanhineva and her research group contains the following personal grant: a researcher to be named later: 20 500 euros.
Jenni Küblbeck, Ph.D., the University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, Kuopio, 25 000 euros
Nuclear receptors in the study and treatment of energy metabolism
Mari-Anne Pulkkinen, M.D., the University of Helsinki, HUS Children’s Hospital, Jorvi Hospital and Oulu University Hospital Pediatrics, 10 000 euros
The effects motivational interviews and intensive diabetes training have on the glycemic control of type 1 diabetes among adolescents with poor glycemic control
The grant awarded Pulkkinen and her research group contains the following personal grants: Anna-Kaisa Tuomaala, M.D., 4 900 euros and Mari-Anne Pulkkinen, M.D., 2 450 euros.
Personal work grants, roughly 10 000 euros
Tuomas Tolvanen, M.Sc., the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Pathology, 10 000 euros
An effective SHIP2 inhibitor; A new drug for type 2 diabetes treatment
Nagendra Yaluri, M.Sc., the University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Clinical Medicine/endocrinology, Kuopio, 8 000 euros
Molecular mechanisms of simvastatin-induced impairment of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity
Olli Helminen, Lic.Med., the University of Oulu, Pediatrics, 6 150 euros
Glucose metabolism changes in preclinical type 1 diabetes, and predicting the onset of the disease
Emmi Kokki, M.S.Pharm, the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, 6 150 euros
Gene therapy for diabetic retinopathy through an antibody that hinders vascular growth
Mari Teesalu, M.sc., the University of Helsinki, Department of Biosciences and the Institute of Biotechnology, 6 150 euros
Characterizing the genetic glucose sensor network
Tuomo Tompuri, Lic.Med., M.Sc. Health Care, the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, 8 200 euros
Risk factors of metabolic syndrome among pre-adolescent children – estimation and measurement
Maria Vähätupa, M.Sc., the University of Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Pirkanmaa Health Care District, 10 000 euros
The significance of the R-Ras gene in an oxygen induced retinopathy model, and in diabetic retinopathy
Heidi Tikkanen-Dolenc, Lic.Med., the University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, Folkhälsan Research Centre, 10 000 euros
Leisure-time physical activity and type 1 diabetes: Impact on renal and cardiovascular complications