Insulin Resistance, Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly

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B. OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS

B.1. General objectives

Diabetes mellitus of aged people is a considerable health burden of western societies. At present no widely established screening method is available to detect the persons who are predisposed in the population and due to our incomplete knowledge on the molecular mechanisms leading to NIDDM we have very few means to influence the onset and development of this diverse disease. The ongoing research of candidate genes as well as various differential screening methods will be coordinated with the new Action.

Various steps of insulin action will be studied starting from the insulin receptor and following insulin action till it reaches the cell nucleus with special emphasis on the investigation of pathological changes of the molecular mechanism of insulin action in insulin resistance, obesity and NIDDM of the aged people. This research activity is thought to lead to the development new drug-candidates for the curing-easing of the consequences of this diverse disease.

B.2. Secondary objectives

The following steps of insulin action will be studied to gain a better understanding of the etiology of insulin resistance, obesity and NIDDM of the aged people, in hope to develop drug-candidates and a reliable screening method to detect the individuals with inherited risk for the disease.

1.Identification of diabetogenes

1.1.examination of candidate genes
1.2.utilisation of various differential screening methods
1.3.possible links of diabetes-related genes to insulin signalling
1.4.search for diabetes-related obesity genes
1.5.age-dependent analysis of critical genes

2. Studies on the intracellular mechanism of insulin action in normal and pathological states

2.1. mechanism of the interactions between insulin receptor and its substrates, analysis of tissue-specificity of insulin signalling pathways
2.2.molecular characterisation of glucose transport in normal and insulin-resistant states
2.3.molecular analysis of insulin signalling and action during the whole lifespan
2.4.interrelationships of insulin resistance and leptin action
2.5. development of insulin- and leptin-related signalling molecules as potential drug candidates

The list of secondary objectives is open for amendments incorporating the specific aims of new groups willing to participate in the concerted action. To join to the proposed research action an expertise in insulin (leptin, insulin-like growth factor) dependent signal transduction, insulin resistance/obesity-related physiological changes and/or in structural studies of insulin resistance/obesity-related genes is required.

C. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME

To help and ensure the efficient information exchange and scientific research cooperation between the participating research groups the following activities are planned in the Action:

- exchange of researchers between participating laboratories
- organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences
- establishment of working groups studying the genetics, signalling, glucose transport in insulin resistance, obesity ang ageing
- organising ways of continuous information exchange using an email correspondence network and by informing the participants about each-other's scientific achievements on a web-site.

A network will facilitate fast information exchange by electronic mail, by a web-site on the Internet or by FAX. The web-site will contain an open forum for "hot topics" and technical as well as theoretical discussions. Conferences, workshops, working group meetings and seminars will be advertised in the scientific community of the host country and will be open for interested members to join. This will serve as a way to give direct information on the Action and to popularise the idea of European collaboration in frame of COST. Original results will be disseminated for the scientific community by participating in international meetings of the network and organised by other bodies and by communications in recognised scientific journals. The Action will seek the possibilities to transfer the appropriate results of the investigations to other networks and programmes such as the 5th Framework programme or EUREKA. A partnership network will be organised involving European companies in the field.

D. ORGANISATION AND TIMETABLE

D.1. Organisation and Management

A Management Committee will be set up following the signing by the appropriate number of Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding. This Committee will work out its rules of operation at its first formal meeting in accordance with existing COST regulations. The partners will appoint an Action Coordinator who will be responsible for coordinating activities of the three to five working groups (Genetics, Signalling, Glucose transport, Obesity, Ageing) and ensuring that the Action meets the overall objectives. Annual reports will be produced for the COST Senior Officials, and a detailed Final Report will be written at the end of the five year period.

D.2. Timetable

The project is planned to last for five years. It is anticipated that the research described in Section B. will be investigated in parallel, building upon existing work in several countries. Specific time schedule and list of tasks (including the organisation of workshops) will be established on a yearly basis by the Management Committee.

E. ECONOMIC DIMENSION

in thousand euro/year

E.1.Estimated personnel costs:
category A (50 scientists)1,500
category B (25 technicians)500
category C (40 students, secretaries)500

E.2.Estimated running costs1,940
E.3.Coordination costs60

E.4.Total costsEUR 4,5 million/year

Items E.1. and E.2. of the budget is covered from national sources in the participating countries. E.3. is sought to be provided by the Commission.

Program(-y)

IC-COST - European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research (COST), 1971-

Temat(-y)

7 - Medical Research

Zaproszenie do składania wniosków

Data not available

System finansowania

Data not available

Koordynator

N/A

Wkład UE

Brak danych

Adres

Węgry

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