The FinnDiane study group at Folkhälsan Research Center has secured significant funding from Novo Nordisk Foundation and will now be able to intensify their search for genetic and epigenetic factors predisposing to diabetic complications. The grant ensures long-term funding for several researchers.
More than 500 million people worldwide have diabetes, and over the years, half of them develop chronic diabetic complications such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetic retinopathy (PDR), which influence the quality of life and increase mortality and health care costs. However, the current treatment can only slow down the progression of these complications rather than curing them. Therefore, early identification of individuals at risk of these complications would allow intensified treatment and prevention.
The biological processes leading to these complications are complex and affected by both genetic and environmental factors.
– In this project, we will search for genetic and epigenetic factors predisposing to diabetic complications, to better understand the biological pathways leading to complications. This also opens up the potential to discover novel genes and proteins that could be targeted with novel drug treatment, says Niina Sandholm, researcher and Co-PI in the FinnDiane study group.
– Furthermore, we will search for circulatory proteins detectable from blood samples that could serve as biomarkers, i.e., predict onset of the complications, to identify the individuals at risk. With integration of the genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, and clinical data, we aim to understand the complex biological pathways and networks behind diabetic complications, and further enhance the disease prediction.
The FinnDiane study is a nationwide study aiming to identify clinical, environmental, and genetic risk factors for diabetic complications to enable personalized treatment, with the final goal to prevent diabetic complications and improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.
– Thanks to this funding by Novo Nordisk Foundation, we will be able to perform a large-scale proteomics analysis of over 500 individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Furthermore, the grant allows the researchers to extend the genetic and epigenetic analyses from diabetic kidney disease to also other complications, and importantly, to integrate the genetics, epigenetics, and proteomics data for improved understanding of the disease pathways.
The grant has a huge impact for the FinnDiane research group.
– In addition to acquiring the proteomics data that can be utilized to explore multiple aspects of diabetes complications, the grant ensures long-term funding for several researchers, allowing us to fully focus on the relevant research questions.
– For me personally, it is such an important funding. I am grateful to the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant selection board for appreciating the importance of our work and believing in our team, says Sandholm.
Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded the research project at Folkhälsan Research Center entitled "Diabetes complications: From genetics, epigenetics, and proteomics to disease prediction” a grant of EUR 1.3M euro (DKK 10M) in the call "Excellence Emerging Investigator Grant - Endocrinology and Metabolism 2023". The Grant Period starts on July 1, 2023 and lasts for 5 years.
Heidi Furu, science communicator
