LADA

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A study of the Genetic Causes of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

  • IRAS ID

    123559

  • Contact name

    Kamlesh Khunti

  • Contact email

    kk22@le.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Leicester - UK Study Sponsor Representative

  • Research summary

    The purpose of this research study is to improve our understanding of the genetic causes of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults or ‘LADA’.
    Latent mean that something is present and capable of developing but may not be previously found.

    Some people may be identified with Type 1 diabetes in early adulthood, which is considered older than the usual age for Type 1 diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes at an age which is younger than the usual age for diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Research studies looking at Type 1 diabetes suggest that complex genes may cause the immune system to incorrectly attack the normal cells that produce or respond to insulin. The body does this by creating antibodies to destroy them.

    This has led to the definition of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults or LADA being created. The details of how to identify LADA, through specific gene identification or why at what age it develops, is not fully agreed and needs further investigation in studies like this.

    A new technology is available that allows scientists to examine hundreds to thousands (>550,000-5,000,000) of DNA variations in a single experiment. As part of this study, we will use this technology to study participant’s genes and the relationships between genes.
    This will allow us to:
    • Find regions of the DNA that may increase the likelihood of developing LADA;
    • Look within these regions to identify specific genes and their variations that might help us understand and diagnose LADA;
    • Look at how people respond to their treatment and/or medications for diabetes or LADA.

    This application refers to up to 400 participants being recruited in the UK to join a much wider project to recruit 10,000 participants in total for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) who are carrying out the analysis.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/EM/0416

  • Date of REC Opinion

    29 Nov 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion