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Dr. Bruce Verchere |
Diabetes
Diabetes is an incurable disease that affects more than 200,000 British Columbians, including about 1 in 400 children and adolescents. The Diabetes program aims to improve the lives of children with diabetes by advancing knowledge of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, through innovative and multi-disciplinary basic and clinical diabetes research.
The program brings together scientists 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 diabetes trials.
Five Main Areas of Focus
Genetics of type 1 diabetes
Investigators are working to identify the specific gene defects that predispose children to type 1 diabetes - this research holds promise in disease prediction, and is key to understanding the pathogenesis of this disease.
Islet cell biology and transplantation
Studies are aimed at understanding how beta cells normally function to produce and secrete insulin and why they are dysfunctional or are destroyed in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A goal of these studies is the development of novel approaches to enhance survival of beta cells following pancreatic islet transplantation.
Viral pathogenesis of diabetes
Research in this area is focused on viruses - such as coxsackie B virus and rubella - that have a strong association with the onset of type 1 diabetes, and on understanding the mechanisms by which viruses can induce destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, either directly or by stimulating autoimmune attack.
Immunology of type 1 diabetes
In autoimmune diabetes, the cellular immune system specifically targets insulin-producing beta cells for destruction. Program investigators aim to determine why the immune system is activated to kill beta cells, and to identify the precise molecular series of events by which cytotoxic T lymphocytes specifically recognize beta cells and kill them.
Clinical Diabetes Research
Each year approximately 120 new children with diabetes - including a disturbing increase in type 2 diabetes, traditionally a disease of adulthood - are admitted to the Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic at the Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC. Investigators working with the clinic are able to study patient DNA and immune cells and translate basic research findings through clinical trials. |
For more information, contact:
Angel Lam
Phone: (604) 875-3883
Last updated:
08/27/2009
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