Biomarkers for beta cell destruction
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biomarkers for beta cell destruction
IRAS ID
184957
Contact name
Jorge Ferrer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Compliance Office
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Detection of beta cell damage or death in blood is an important challenge that could transform basic research, diagnosis and clinical trials in diabetes. We propose to establish novel, sensitive and quantitative methods for the detection of nucleic acids shed from damaged beta cells to blood, and to apply these methods in the context of human diabetes. Our main approach is to quantify specific microRNA isoforms released from damaged or dying beta cells to the circulation, focusing on combinations of beta cell-specific microRNAs. Preliminary studies on recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients suggest that beta cell damage (lethal or sub-lethal) can be reliably detected based on circulating microRNA profiles. We will then apply this approach to address fundamental questions in the biology of human diabetes, using both archived material and freshly isolated blood from patients and healthy volunteers. The proposal is close collaboration between three groups with complementary expertise: Prof. Schatz, from the University of Florida, who provides expertise in clinical diabetes, Prof Ferrer, from Imperial College London (beta cell epigenomics and microRNAs) and Prof. Dor (Hebrew University), who will be performing parallel studies with other biomarkers.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0016
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion