MANF Trophic factor as a potential Novel Therapeutic agent for TYPE1 Diabetes
Diabetes Grants Of 2013
Timo Ylikomi from Tampere received the Diabetes Research Foundations large grant
The foundations large grant, 100 000 Euros in total for two years, was awarded to M.D. Timo Ylikomi from the University of Tampere. Ylikomi's research group has developed a fat cell model, through which insulin resistance may be studied. In total the Foundation awarded 400 000 Euros to 20 researchers.
This year the Diabetes Research Foundation received 80 grant applications of which 55 were centered on type 2 diabetes research, 21 on type 1 diabetes research and 14 on gestational diabetes research. Six applications were focused on other types of diabetes. One application may focus on several types of diabetes.
Almost a third of the applications were sent by researchers working at the University of Helsinki. Researchers from the Kuopio unit of the University of Eastern Finland were the second largest group of applicants.
Since its establishment in 1976 the Foundation has awarded over five million Euros in grant funds. People part of the Foundations administration are not eligible to receive its grants.
Grant For MANF
Saarma, Mart, professor, the University of Helsinki, 25 000 Euros
MANF trophic factor as a potential novel therapeutic agent for type1 diabetes
Identifying the mechanisms that lead to the death of insulin producing beta cells may help to find new prevention methods of type 1 diabetes. MANF (Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor) protects and restores nervous cells with a dopamine neurotransmitter in the animal model of Parkinson’s disease. In order to study the biological role of MANF, the research group has developed a knockout mouse model (MANF KO). Surprisingly, the MANF KO mouse developed severe diabetes soon after its birth, as a result of advancing beta cell mass reduction.
This research venture studies molecular-level mechanisms where MANF regulates beta cell survival and dissemination in the islet cells of normal knockout mice. In addition to this, the research group aims to develop a transgenic mouse model that can be used when studying whether or not excessive manifestation of MANF can prevent the development of diabetes in mice.
