Copenhagen, Denmark – December 13, 2007 – The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the world's largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research, awarded Professor Jens Høiriis Nielsen, from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, a research grant for $495,000 to study beta cell regeneration and expansion during pregnancy with the objective of discovering new approaches for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
The project, “Beta Cell Expansion: Lessons from Pregnancy,” is aimed at studying the mechanisms responsible for the increase in insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy. Experiments with mice have shown that increased levels of pregnancy hormones are involved in the proliferation of beta cells. Dr. Nielsen will now study the effect of serum from pregnant women on human beta cell proliferation and survival in isolated islets. The successful identification of the factors in pregnant human serum and understanding the signaling pathways involved in the expansion of insulin producing beta cells may ultimately lead to new regenerative drugs and therapies for type 1 diabetes.
“This award will allow us to devote our research effort to unravel the mechanisms behind the beta cell expansion in pregnancy. We will work together with experts in protein chemistry from Novo Nordisk and in bioinformatics from the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, as well as other scientists engaged in the JDRF funded program,” said Dr. Nielsen. “By identification of growth factors and signaling pathways that promote expansion of the functional beta cell mass, new drug targets may be discovered that may lead to new ways of treatment of type 1 diabetes.”
“The University of Copenhagen’s novel work on beta cell regeneration and the effect pregnancy hormones have on human islet cell production, are key steps in understanding regeneration,” said Patricia Kilian, Ph.D., Therapeutic Program Director for Regeneration research at JDRF. “This initiative meets a critical JDRF research goal and more importantly has the potential to create applicable cure therapeutics for type 1 diabetes patients.”
Additional details about the proposed study and other research funded by JDRF may be seen by visiting JDRF’s website (www.jdrf.org) and clicking on the link labeled “Abstracts of JDRF-funded research.”
About JDRF Denmark
JDRF Denmark is the latest affiliate addition to the globally growing JDRF family.
Established in 2003, the affiliate was run on volunteer basis for the first 4 years. In February 2007 the affiliate was staffed by two key persons from the founding board, Finn Kristensen and Lisbeth Wigéll. Fundraising activities include walks, the international Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes, Cruise for a Cure, golf tournaments, soccer collection events, holiday greeting cards, private donations, memberships and partnerships with the business community. For more information please visit www.jdrf.dk.
About JDRF
JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with type 1 diabetes – a disease that strikes children, adolescents, and adults suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research worldwide. More than 85 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. For more information please visit www.jdrf.org.