Diabetes Research Program

The Diabetes research program in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, aims to improve the livesof children with diabetes byadvancing knowledge of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, through innovative and multi-disciplinary basic and clinical diabetes research. Research is aimed at understanding the causes of types 1 and 2 diabetes and improving treatments.

The program brings together researchers from a variety of backgrounds – including virology, genetics, immunology, islet biology, and clinical diabetes research – to tackle this complex disease. Diabetes program investigators have extensive ties with the international diabetes research community and participate in international clinical trials for diabetes.

 

Recent News

Early puberty and mental health in girls

August 7, 2012: A recent Globe and Mail article looks at whether there is a link between early puberty and depression in girls. One of the experts interviewed for the story was Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos, a researcher in the Diabetes Research Program at CFRI.

 

2012 Canucks for Kids Fund Diabetes Catalyst Grant Competition Results

The Diabetes Research Program recently ran its third internal grant competition for the “Canucks for Kids Fund” Diabetes Catalyst Awards. The committee received 11 excellent innovative research proposals. After an external peer review process the successful grant applications for the 2012 Catalyst Grant Competition were:

  • William Gibson, $50,000 grant
    Role of p300 protein in B-cell function and survival
  • Megan Levings, $50,000 grant
    Gene signatures of T regulatory cells as molecular biomarkers in type 1 diabetes

Diabetes researcher honoured with new award

CFRI scientist Dr. Francis Lynn was announced as the first recipient of the new Alan Permutt Career Development Award by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The award honours research in the field of beta cell therapies.

 

12th International Conference on the Immunology of Diabetes

February 15, 2012: Dr. Bruce Verchere and Dr. Rusung Tan are co-chairs of the 12th International Conference on the Immunology of Diabetes, taking place on June 15-June 19th, 2012 in Victoria, British Columbia.

IDS 2012 will feature novel discussions on a wide range of current topics, including clinical trials, the microbiome, immunopathology of type 1 diabetes, issues of transplantation, and new models of diabetes. Click here for more details on the early abstract deadline (Feb 29th) or visit www.ids2012.ca for more details about the conference.

Genetic variation increases risk of metabolic side effects in children on some antipsychotics

January 24, 2012: Researchers have found a genetic variation predisposing children to six-times greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome when taking second-generation anti-psychotic medications. The research is published today in the medical research journal Translational Psychiatry. Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos and Dr. Angela Devlin were co-authors of the study.

 

Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome

December 15, 2011: Scientists have found a gene that causes Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that typically causes large size at birth, tall stature, developmental delay during childhood, and intellectual disability. Published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics, the discovery means that testing the EZH2 gene for mutations could help families who are seeking a diagnosis for their child. The study was led by Dr. William Gibson.

 

Gene therapy stimulates protein that blocks immune attack and prevents type 1 diabetes in mice

July 5, 2011: Increasing a specific protein in areas of the pancreas that produce insulin blocks the immune attack that causes type 1 diabetes, report CFRI researchers in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, published early online. The research team includes Dr. Bruce Verchere, Dr. Loraine Bischoff, Dr. Joel Montane, and Dr. Rusung Tan.

 

Geneticist's lab ready to aid obese: Specialist hopes more MDs make use of facility

May 12, 2011: Dr. William Gibson talks to the Times Colonist about research that aims to help people with rare genetic obesity disorders.

 

A weighty issue: How much sugar is too much?

March 15, 2011: Dr. Daniel Metzger talks to the Vancouver Sun about sugar in beverages.

 

Canucks for Kids Fund donates $5 million to BC Children's Hospital

March 14, 2011: The Canucks for Kids Fund announced a gift of $3-million to support BC Children's Hospital Foundation's Campaign for BC Children and $2-million to the Diabetes Research Laboratory at CFRI.

 

Global BC story on diabetes research

December 12, 2010: Dr. Bruce Verchere spoke to Global BC TV about diabetes research.

 

T cell discovery shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment: UBC-CFRI study

October 5, 2010: Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Diabetes Research Program at CFRI have identified the role of a type of T cell in type 1 diabetes that may lead to new treatment options for young patients.

 

Researchers from the Diabetes Research Group receive funding from Canada Foundation for Innovation

May 13, 2010: We are pleased to congratulate diabetes research scientists Dr. Francis Lynn and Dr. Brad Hoffman who recently received $250,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation through the Leaders Opportunity Fund for their project "Beta Cell Genesis Research Facility."

 

Diabetes Research Program Update Newsletters