Former Danish Diabetes Academy Post Doc fellow receives more than 1 million DKK to support his research

MD, PhD Jakob Appel Østergaard, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital (former Danish Diabetes Academy Post Doc fellow) has received 581.330 DKK from the Danish Council for Independent Research ('Det Frie Forskningsråd') and 568.851 DKK from Region of Central Jutland's Research Fund ('Region Midtjyllands Forskningsfond') to support his research within diabetic nephropathy.

AROUND 30 PERCENT OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETES ARE AFFECTED BY KIDNEY PROBLEMS

Nearly 30 per cent of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are affected by varying degrees of kidney problems. Diabetic nephropathy is therefore a widespread and potentially dangerous complication of diabetes that, at worst, can lead to renal failure.

AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF THE DREADED DISEASE IS YET TO BE DISCOVERED

Research is indicating that the immune system of people with diabetes is mistaken the body's own cells with those of invading bacteria, which presumably is what happens in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Jakob Østergaard's aim is therefore to discover a means of deflecting or at least diminishing the attacks on the body’s own cells.

“The research perspectives are very promising. A number of drugs that control the immune system have already been developed. It is reasonable to speculate that they could be applied preventively in the case of diabetes patients”, Jakob states in the interview for the booklet 12 Talents.