Grants 2018
This year we received the all-time greatest number of grant application. Diabetes researchers sought grant funding from us for a total of 3,6 million Euros, which is a million Euros more than the previous year.
The Diabetes Research Foundation was able to support diabetes research with 550 000 Euros, and award grants to 23 diabetes researchers.
In all we received 111 applications, nearly a quarter of which were from researchers employed at the University of Turku. Type 1 diabetes research has after a few quiet years caught up with type 2 diabetes research, and we received an almost equal amount of applications concerning both types.
– A strong desire to advance among young diabetes researchers was evident in the applications. The research subjects emphasized i.a. gut microbiome and enterovirus significance in type 1 diabetes, says assistant professor Sanna Lehtonen, chairman of our Scientific Committee and evaluator of this year’s grant applications.
The largest grant supports prevention of type 2 diabetes
Our largest grant of 90 000 Euros was awarded docent Vanessa de Mello Laaksonen from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. Her research aims to help prevent type 2 diabetes among people with a high risk of becoming sick.
In her research de Mello Laaksonen studies what significance microbial indolepropionic acid has on glucose and fat metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue.
The large two-year grant provides de Mello Laaksonen with a better requisite to function as the new head of the research group. The grant also makes it possible for a thesis worker to be attached to the research venture.
Two-year grants for type 1 diabetes research
One of the two-year grants of 60 000 Euros was awarded docent Tuure Kinnunen from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, and the other academy professor Riitta Lahesmaa from the University of Turku.
Kinnunen studies cells of the immune system that attack insulin producing pancreatic cells. His research increases the understanding of type 1 diabetes birth mechanisms, thus improving the possibilities of type 1 diabetes prevention. In addition to this, the research may help identify children with a heightened disease risk.
The two-year grant awarded Kinnunen will secure long-term funding for his research, which is of utmost importance with regards to sustainable research work.
Lahesmaa studies chronic enterovirus infections and type 1 diabetes birth mechanisms. Her theory is that a chronic virus infection causes changes in the pancreas that enable the virus to hide in the pancreatic tissue and contribute to the origin of type 1 diabetes. If we are able to understand how a virus infection alters human pancreatic cells, we may find new methods to remedy the situation.
The grant plays a pivotal role in the furthering of Lahesmaa’s research work. It enables research ventures to produce new information regarding the birth mechanisms of type 1 diabetes.
Two-year grant, 90 000 euros
de Mello Laaksonen Vanessa, docent, Ph.D., the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
Molecular and metabolic mechanisms for the role of gut microbiota-derived indolepropionic acid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes
The grant awarded docent de Mello-Laaksonen’s research group also contains the following personal grant: NN, 20 months, 41 000 euros.
Two-year grant, 60 000 euros
Kinnunen Tuure, docent, M.D., M.Sc., the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
Single cell assessment of helper T cell dysfunction during the development of human type I diabetes
Lahesmaa Riitta, professor, Ph.D., M.Sc., the University of Turku
Chronic enterovirus infections and the development of type I diabetes
The grant awarded professor Lahesmaa’s research group also contains the following personal grant: Buchacher Tanja, 8 months, 9 800 euros.
One-year grants, roughly 27 000 euros
Ilonen Jorma, MChD, the University of Turku, 27 000 euros
The heterogeneousness of type 1 diabetes disease mechanisms
Kajantie Eero, docent, M.D., National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, 27 000 euros
Type 2 diabetes risk factors among prematurely born persons nearing middle age
Kondrashova Anita, M.D., Ph.D., the University of Tampere, 26 316 euros
Neutrophil-mediated inflammation, enterovirus infections and the development of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in type 1 diabetes
Lehtoranta Lara, M.D., the University of Turku, 26 150 euros
The circulatory system of a fetus of a mother with diabetes
The grant awarded Lehtoranta’s research venture also contains the following personal grants: Lehtoranta Lara, 2 050 euros and Laukkanen Meeri, 4 100 euros.
Mykkänen Juha, docent, Ph.D., the University of Turku, 27 000 euros
Molecular genetic mechanisms that improve metabolic health during a 20 year nutrition and lifestyle intervention
Nykter Matti, D.Sc. (Tech.), the University of Tampere, 25 000 euros
Understanding Coxsackie B virus induced immune response changes in T 1 D autoimmunity
Rönnemaa Tapani, MChD, the Universities of Turku and Oulu, 27 000 euros
Metformin in gestational diabetes treatment – long-term metabolic effects on 9 year olds
The grant awarded Rönnemaa’s research venture also contains the following personal grant: Paavilainen Elisa, 4 100 euros.
Thorn Lena, M.D., the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 27 000 euros
Risk factors for covert and overt cerebrovascular disease in patients with type I diabetes: A longitudinal long-term brain MRI follow-up study
The grant awarded Thorn’s research venture also contains the following personal grants: Thorn Lena, 4 900 Euros and Eriksson Marika, 4 950 euros.
Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka, M.D., the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 26 433 euros
Finnish Vitamin D Trial (FIND) – The significance of vitamin D supplements in the prevention of type 2 diabetes
Personal working grants, roughly 10 000 euros
Hassani Nezhad Gashti Fatemeh, M.Sc. Pharm., the University of Oulu, 10 000 euros
PXR as a regulator of metabolic syndrome (article based)
Hasygar Kiran, M.Sc., the University of Helsinki, 8 200 euros
ERK7 is a novel regulator of insulin secretion, tissue growth and lipid metabolism
Honkimaa Anni, M.Sc., the University of Tampere, 10 000 euros
The ability of enteroviruses connected to type 1 diabetes to cause chronic infection in pancreatic cells, and how to cure the infection with antiviral drugs
Houttu Noora, M.Sc., the University of Turku, 10 000 euros
Pregnancy diet, microbiome and low-level inflammation as health regulators in mother and child: new modes of action
Kentala Henriikka, M.Sc., Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 6 150 euros
ORP2 protein: an activator of Akt signaling that regulates cell glucose and triacylglycerol metabolism
Latva-Rasku Aino, Lic. Med., the University of Turku, 8 200 euros
Regulation of central and peripheral insulin sensitivity
Laurila Pirkka-Pekka, MChD, the University of Helsinki and Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, 10 000 euros
The genetics of aging with regard to diabetes and metabolic disorders
Luukkonen Panu, Lic. Med., the University of Helsinki, Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 10 000 euros
The heterogeneousness of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – acquired and genetic forms of liver fat metabolism
Rönö Kristiina, Lic. Med., the University of Helsinki, 10 000 euros
Lifestyle intervention and socioeconomic status as risk factors for gestational diabetes
Sandini Lorenzo, Lic. Med., South Karelia Central Hospital, 7 800 euros
The transition from traditional insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring to the OpenAPS source code-based artificial pancreas treatment: the effect on glucose variability among type 1 diabetes patients with inadequate blood sugar balance
Sjöros Tanja, M. H. Sc., the University of Turku, 10 000 euros
How spending less time sitting down affects type 2 diabetes risk factors – a randomized controlled study