Commission awards over 1 million euro to EU diabetes research
The European Commission has awarded a Scottish university over 1 million euro to lead an EU consortium of research on the relationship between diet, exercise and Type 2 diabetes. Dundee University's Professor Grahame Hardie is to co-ordinate the research, which will involve collaboration by scientists in the UK, Belgium, France, Spain and Denmark. A Danish pharmaceutical company will also take part in the work. Type 2 diabetes, which currently affects 15 million people throughout Europe, used to affect mainly older and obese people. It is thought, however, that the modern 'couch potato' lifestyle may be behind the increasing prevalence of the disease among younger age groups. The 3-year grant has been awarded under the 'chronic diseases' section of the 'Quality of life' programme of the Fifth Framework programme. The main focus of the project is a system known as AMP-activated protein kinase, discovered by Professor Hardie and his team 15 years ago. It is thought that this exercise-activated system, which monitors the energy level of each living cell in the human body, may hold the key to Type 2 diabetes. Once activated, it is responsible for increased use of carbohydrates and fats to provide energy for muscle action, and the regulation of fat storage. Professor Hardie said: 'It is very pleasing that a discovery we made here at the University of Dundee almost 15 years ago, when we first discovered the protein kinase, is now the focus of such intensive, Europe-wide research.'