Project description
Addressing cardiovascular disease risks in diabetes patients
Diabetes is associated with microvascular diseases, primarily affecting the coronary arteries and the peripheral arteries. However, current diabetes therapies do not reduce cardiovascular events. In this context, the ERC-funded RGD-Diabetes project will search for a solution. Specifically, the research will focus on a circulating protein, IGF binding protein-1, which possesses several favourable characteristics (insulin sensitisation, amelioration of glucose intolerance, blood pressure lowering, reduced atherosclerosis and increased vascular repair). These effects are mediated by the interaction of the protein’s RGD-domain with cell-surface α5β1 integrin receptors, which increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic islets. The project will test whether RGD-integrin interaction could be exploited therapeutically in diabetes.
Objective
In Europe, 58 million people are living with type 2 diabetes and 36 million people are at risk of developing the condition. Macrovascular disease is the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes, yet current diabetes therapies have failed to consistently reduce cardiovascular events. In my Starting Grant, I discovered that a circulating protein, IGF binding protein-1, possesses several favourable characteristics– including insulin sensitisation, amelioration of glucose intolerance, blood pressure lowering, reduced atherosclerosis and increased vascular repair. These effects are mediated by interaction of the protein’s RGD-domain with cell-surface α5β1 integrin receptors, which increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic islets. Hence the ‘idea’ from my Starting Grant is that RGD-integrin interaction could be exploited therapeutically in diabetes. In this Proof-of-Concept grant, we will take the first step towards commercialisation of the idea by designing and testing small molecule mimics of the RGD domain of IGFBP1 as diabetes therapeutics. Using in silico modelling based on the known structures of IGFBP1 and the α5β1 integrin ectodomain, we will design a small molecule library of commercially available potential agonists. We will carry out virtual high throughput screening of the library for molecules matching the shape and electrostatic potential of the RGD domain of IGFBP1 as predicted to bind to α5β1 integrin. As contingency, we will also identify in silico ‘me-too’ analogues of known integrin ligands. We will test the best quality hits through ADME profiling and validate therapeutic activity in vitro and in vivo. At the end of the project, we anticipate we will have identified small molecule RGD mimics which can subsequently be progressed through the drug-discovery pipeline through translation grant funding or pharmaceutical industry Open Innovation schemes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases arteriosclerosis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.