The genomic basis of abnormal glucose metabolism in Ireland
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Genomic Basis of Abnormal Glucose Metabolism on the island of Ireland
IRAS ID
261823
Contact name
Tony Bjourson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Genomics Medicine Ireland
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Disorders of abnormal glucose metabolism constitute a number of different disorders with genetic and/or environmental causes. Diabetes is a complex disease caused by the complete absence of insulin in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) or insufficient insulin or insulin resistance in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Other less common forms of diabetes include gestational diabetes and specific monogenic diabetes syndromes such as neonatal diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).
According to Diabetes Ireland, there are approximately 226,800 individuals in Ireland living with diabetes (https://www.diabetes.ie/about-us).This represents a major challenge to the Irish health care system and the undiagnosed individuals as these individuals are unknowingly increasing the risk and severity of complications. Classification of diabetes type is of vital importance for determining specific therapy based on type. Diabetes diagnosis is currently based on plasma glucose criteria, either fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or the 2 hour plasma (2-h-PG) value during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or A1C criteria (Gillett 2009).
The focus of this study is to investigate the role of genetic, biological and lifestyle factors in individuals with diabetes in Ireland. The study involves the collection of blood samples (containing genetic material), questionnaire(s) and relevant medical information from fully-consented individuals with diabetes. Through national collaboration, we aim to ascertain 30,000 patients nationally. It is hoped that the information gained from this study may lead to better diagnosis and treatments for people with diabetes. We will do this by using cutting edge techniques such as whole genome sequencing. This technique will allow us to perform in-depth analysis of all genes at the same time compared to previously published research studies which only focused on small subsections of our genetic material.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0726
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion