DIabetes VAriants (DIVA)- Exeter
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Defining the molecular and physiological mechanisms of pancreatic islet dysfunction which lead to type 2 diabetes
IRAS ID
167199
Contact name
Bridget Knight
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Our study aims to understand more about the impact of genetic variation on insulin production and processing. Insulin is the only hormone in the body that reduces blood sugar levels to normal after a meal. It is produced and processed by special cells in the pancreas called beta cells. With the exception of type 1 diabetes (caused by the body’s defence system destroying the beta cells), we know very little about why some people are able to produce different amounts of insulin in response to a meal. We have recently discovered that small changes in a person’s genetic code may affect their insulin production and processing. We would like to explore the impact of this genetic variation in more detail. In this study we will perform investigations using blood samples from individuals carrying different genetic changes that we believe alter insulin processing and production. DNA samples from a tissue bank with over-arching ethics and enduring consent to re-contact volunteers, will be genotyped and volunteers with the genetic variations of interest and their matched controls (gender, age and BMI) will be invited to donate further blood samples and provide measures of body composition.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1140
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion