Grants 2019
In 2019 the Diabetes Research Foundation received a total of 110 grant applications. In 2018 the number of received applications was 111.
We received 30 applications for the large grant, which is eight applications more than the previous year. We also received 41 applications for one-year venture grants, and 39 researchers applied for personal/work grant funding.
A total of 47 applications were focused on the study of type 1 diabetes (60 in 2018), 67 applications on the study of type 2 diabetes (62), 14 applications on gestational diabetes (12) and 8 applications on other types of diabetes (8). One application may focus on several types of diabetes.
Most of the applications, 25, 5% in all, were received from The University of Helsinki. An abundant number of applications, 20%, were also received from The University of Turku. Next were the Universities of Eastern Finland, Tampere and Oulu.
According to the chairman of the Foundations scientific committee Leo Niskanen, the level of the applications continued its upward trend.
– We received very high-level applications that are a joy to read. Unfortunately, we were not able to support all of the good applications this year either, says Niskanen.
This year we had the opportunity to award a total of 24 grants: three two-year grants for significant research ventures, 12 one-year grants and 9 personal/work grants. The total of awarded grant funds comes to 550 000 Euros.
Large grants for the study of several types of diabetes
Docent Jarna Hannukainen, recipient of the two-year grant of 100 000 Euros, is researching the interaction between the brain, peripheral tissues and intestinal microbiota in glucose metabolism regulation throughout the entire body. The research also aims to develop a method with which to identify persons who would benefit from regular physical exercises in the prevention of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
The two-year grant of 69 000 Euros awarded docent Tiinamaija Tuomi is meant for research to clarify how the division of diabetes into subtypes is preserved as the illness progresses. The research monitors persons in the Vaasa Diabetes register i.e. through questionnaires and laboratory examinations.
The two-year grant of 69 000 Euros was awarded professor Riitta Veijola, who heads the DIPP study concerning the prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes in Oulu, for her DIPP Novum study that expands the DIPP study to include pregnancy and the first months of a newborn. In addition to this, the research examines epigenetic inheritance through three generations. The research aims to i.e. identify environmental factors that are connected to the emergence of type 1 diabetes antibodies.
Two-year grant, 100 000 euros
Hannukainen Jarna, PhD, docent, the University of Turku, PET Centre
Modelling systemic cross-talk between brain, gut, and peripheral tissues in glucose homeostasis: exercise training and public health (CROSSYS)
Two-year grant, 69 000 euros
Tuomi Tiinamaija, D.Med.Sc., docent, Folkhälsan Research Center, Botnia Study and Vaasa Central Hospital
A follow up study of type 1 diabetes subtypes in the Vaasa Diabetes register
Veijola Riitta, M.D., D.Med.Sc., professor, the University of Oulu
DIPP NOVUM – The Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study
One-year grants, roughly 25 000 euros
Dadson Prince, PhD, the University of Turku, PET Centre, 13 000 euros
New Concepts for Identifying Novel Biomarkers for Adult Type 2 Diabetes Based on a Combined PET Imaging and Multi-OMICS Profiling Techniques
The venture grant awarded Prince Dadsons research group also includes the following personal grant: Dadson Prince, 13 000 Euros.
Heikkinen Sami, PhD, docent, the University of Eastern Finland/Kuopio, 15 950 euros
Genetic determinants of metabolic gene regulation
Heiskanen Marja, PhD, MSc (Sport and Health Sciences), the University of Turku, PET Centre 12 500 euros
Systemic modeling of blood sugar balance: the effects of insulin resistance and exercise
The venture grant awarded Marja Heiskanens research group also includes the following personal grant: Heiskanen Marja, 12 500 Euros
Honkala Sanna, PhD, MSc (Sport and Health Sciences), the University of Turku, PET Centre, 12 500 euros
Mechanisms behind impaired brain glucose metabolism in insulin resistance: effects of exercise training.
The venture grant awarded Sanna Honkalas research group also includes the following personal grant: Honkala Sanna, 12 500 euros
Lehtimäki Terho, M.D., PhD, professor, the University of Tampere, 20 000 euros
Long-term changes in epigenetic profiles as diabetes risk factors
The venture grant awarded docent Terho Lehtimäkis research group also includes the following personal grant: NN (Thesis Worker), 14 000 euros
Lehto Markku, PhD, docent, Folkhälsan Research Center, 15 000 euros
Interconnections between gastrointestinal disorders and diabetic kidney disease
Pirinen Eija, PhD, docent, the University of Helsinki, 23 000 euros
Vitamin B3 supplements – a new method of furthering obesity treatment and metabolic health based on mitochondrial activation?
Rasool Omid, PhD, docent, the University of Turku, 23 000 euros
Identification of differentially methylated DNA in longitudinal samples from children at risk to develop Type 1 Diabetes
Sandholm Niina, DSc (Technology), docent, Folkhälsan Research Center, 23 000 euros
Early prevention of coronary artery disease through genetic risk profiling for individuals with type 1 diabetes
Olkkonen Vesa, Phd, professor, Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 22 000 euros
Insulin resistance in adipocytes and their endocrine effects on the progression of fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes
The venture grant awarded Vesa Olkkonens research group also includes the following personal grant: Ahonen Maria, 16 000 euros
Tarvainen Mika, PhD, docent, the University of Eastern Finland/Kuopio, 23 000 euros
Subclinical Cardiorespiratory and Neural Complications of Type 1 Diabetes – Effects of Exercise and Stress on Glycemic Variability and development of complications (DIAMES project)
The venture grant awarded Mika Tarvainens research group also includes the following personal grants: Hyrylä Vesa, 12 000 euros and Lesch Kim, 10 000 euros
van der Kolk Bertine Willemina (Birgitta), PhD, the University of Helsinki, 23 000 euros
Identifying the role of adipose tissue mitochondria in successful weight loss and insulin sensitivity
Personal work grants, roughly 10 000 euros
Jansson Fanny, B.M., the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 8 250 euros
The changing natural history of diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes
Järvelä-Reijonen Elina, MHSc, the University of Eastern Finland/Kuopio, 10 000 euros
Lifestyle intervention through a digital application and the effects on type 2 diabetes risk factors among adults in a weakened status
Kuusela Sara, MSc, the University of Helsinki, 10 000 euros
Tankyrases and PARylation in Diabetic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
Lithovius Raija, PhD, the University of Helsinki, Folkhälsan Research Center, 10 000 euros
Longitudinal medication profiles and kidney disease progression in type 1 diabetes
López Rodríguez Maykel, MSc, the University of Eastern Finland/Kuopio, 8 200 euros
Translating T2D-associated genetic variants in the glucokinase regulatory protein gene (GCKR) into functional mechanisms
Luukkonen Panu, M.D., the University of Helsinki and Yale University, USA, 10 000 euros
Hepatic Substrate Fluxes in NAFLD in Humans
Marjonen Heidi, PhD, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, 9 800 euros
Utilizing genomic data when evaluating the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Ruotsalainen Anna-Kaisa, PhD, the University of Eastern Finland/Kuopio, 9 800 euros
Prediabetes as a vascular disease risk factor
Turunen Tytteli, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 10 000 euros
VEGF signaling pathways and inhibitors in retinal angiogenesis; Models and therapies for diabetic retinopathy