Research and academia
We have ongoing, active research programmes at the Academic Centre for Diabetes and Metabolism, Barts and The London Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Professor Graham Hitman and Dr Simon Coppack are internationally recognised in the genetics of diabetes and physiological mechanisms of obesity.
Professor Graham Hitman and Dr Tahseen Chowdhury’s clinical research centres on prevention of diabetes and CV disease in South Asians. Professor Graham Hitman is presenting state-of-the-art lectures at EASD / IDF on these topics.
We have close links with the Diabetes Association of Bangladesh, of which Professor Graham Hitman is a patron, and we have a regular exchange of research fellows.
Professor David Leslie is internationally recognised in the causes of autoimmune diabetes, twin studies and vaccine trials to prevent autoimmune diabetes.
North East London Diabetes Research Network (DRN)
Eight local research networks aim to support the delivery of excellence in clinical research to benefit people with diabetes or at risk of developing diabetes.
Prof Graham Hitman and colleagues from Barts and The London NHS Trust and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry are leading research in the North East London Network to improve care for people with diabetes and increase public and patient involvement in diabetes research.
Examples of our clinical trials include:
- A study looking at the genetic overlap of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and the prevalence characterisation of late autoimmune deficiency.
- A study involving identical twins with type 1 diabetes. If one twin has diabetes, one third of all the second twins will go on to develop type 2 diabetes, but two thirds do not. This study questions whether this is the result of genetics or environmental factors.
- A prevention study focusing on individual attitudes toward the prevention of diabetes among people in the Bangladeshi community.
- A trial to empower patients to better manage their diabetes in which lay leaders deliver the intervention
- A pharma co-therapy intervention/prevention programme in Bangladeshi people focusing on lifestyle including diet, exercise and metformin.
- A study using fish oil to treat women with type 1 and type diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
- Trials of the latest medications for type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Early identification of type 1 diabetes to facilitate access to the new therapies that might prevent or halt the disease
To view the interests or publications of the academic centre for diabetes and metabolic disorders, please click here.
To view a list of our academic papers, please click here.
