DKK 11.5 million for young researchers from the Danish Diabetes Academy

A total of 16 researchers will share the money. Six will undertake PhDs, and five will do postdoc projects. Five are visiting professors who will bring with them expertise to enrich Denmark’s research communities.

SEE THE GRANT RECIPIENTS
SEE THE INDUSTRIAL GRANT RECIPIENTS

Danish diabetes centres can look forward to gaining new and important knowledge in the years to come: thanks to grants from the Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA) totalling 11.5 million Danish kroner (EUR 1,546,433), young researchers are setting out to discover, for example, whether people with diabetes who are also at risk of serious heart disease can be found before they themselves have noticed anything wrong at all. Others will try to alleviate sleeping problems in young people with type 1 diabetes, while yet others will attempt to help the many people who have both type 2 diabetes and serious mental illnesses. Three will attempt to remedy health-threatening obesity. One will find out why losing weight is difficult, another whether there is a key to lasting weight loss, and a third why fat cells from women and men behave differently.

The 11.5 million kroner will be awarded today to 16 researchers. Six will undertake PhDs, five will do postdoc projects, and five are visiting professors who will bring with them expertise to enrich Denmark’s research communities.

All recipients will supplement their research with a visit abroad, and, in a number of cases, this is set to be not a one-off, but the start of collaborative relationships between not only the researchers, but their institutions as well. 

Track record, knowledge and ambition
The Chairman of the DDA’s Board of Directors, Professor Allan Flyvbjerg, says that the field was exceptionally strong and included candidates with a track record, knowledge and, not least, the ambition to be among the best in their field.

“The international reviewers have once again expressed their admiration for the high international standard shown by the young diabetes researchers, and they say that many more deserved to have their research ideas realised”, he says.

Allan Flyvbjerg highlights the fact that young researchers supported by DDA since it began have now progressed to the point where they are making an impact internationally. “I am certain that those receiving funding this year will be equally successful”, he says.

Four to collaborate with the industry
As many as four of the young researchers who have received PhD or postdoc grants will carry out research not only at universities and hospitals, but also in the industry. One will develop a decision support system to help people with diabetes and provide them with personal guidance and medicine dosage reminders. One will use artificial intelligence as an analytical method to improve our understanding of diseases triggered by an imbalance between the glucose metabolism and the cardiovascular system, and will explore new treatment goals. A third hope to contribute to the development of new drugs that can limit the rapidly increasing obesity epidemic.

Facts about the five visiting professors
The five visiting professors will work on many different aspects of diabetes. Professor Robert Andrews from University of Exeter in the United Kingdom will help to introduce a safe, secure and effective training programme for people with type 1 diabetes. - There is a need for this; they get a third less exercise than other people.

Professor David Beran of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, will assist the Danish healthcare system in helping low and middle-income countries plan and prioritise their action on diabetes.

Professor Sam El-Osta, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, will contribute to improving measures for patients with diabetic kidney disease in Denmark.

As well as researching and developing diabetes treatment, Professor Nicholas M. Morton from University of Edinburgh will also extend his successful new Scottish network (EdiaNET) to include leading researchers from the Danish diabetes community.

Finally, Professor Richard G. Holt of the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, will contribute to stepping up research efforts and treatment provision for people with both diabetes and mental illness, initially in Region Zealand and then throughout Denmark.

Facts

• Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA), which has contributed to funding the research, is a nationwide network supporting talented young researchers. DDA was established through a DKK 156 million (EUR 20,977,473) grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
  
  
• The grants are distributed geographically so that research funding benefits the whole country, from Aalborg in the north, through Aarhus, Odense and Slagelse, to Copenhagen.

Contact
Professor Allan Flyvbjerg, Chairman, Board of Directors
Tel: +45 51 77 95 48
E-mail: allan.flyvbjerg@regionh.dk

Managing Director Tore Christiansen
Tel: +45 29 64 67 64
E-mail: tore.christiansen@rsyd.dk

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10 June 2021, 07.00 am
Read the Danish press release here