Diabetes mellitus is a disease of major socio-
economic impact affecting well over 200 million people worldwide. Indeed, diabetes has already been coined the epidemic of the 21st Century and constitutes a major global health challenge. The incidence of diabetes is expected to increase further in the next 20 years to more than 300 million, presenting huge social and economic burdens, consuming over $100 billion per annum in the United States alone. These recent statistics prompt concerted research effort to generate new approaches to treat, cure and even prevent both diabetes and serious debilitating secondary complications.
Regulation of insulin release, cellular morphology and induction of apoptotic cell death in clonal pancreatic beta-cells
The Diabetes Research Group in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, has made a number of research discoveries leading to development of a strong patent portfolio and intellectual property for commercialization through UUTech and the new spin-out company, Diabetica Limited (Diabetica). Diabetica, formed by the academic co-founders Dr Neville McClenaghan, Professor Peter Flatt, and Professor Finbarr O'Harte, has a strong technology base and is performing cutting edge research and product development to provide new strategies for the management and treatment of diabetes.
The novel and innovative research activities of the Diabetes Research Group have also contributed to the award of the highest grade of 5* in the 2001 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise and are strengthened through an extensive network of international collaborations. The Diabetes Research Group, comprising five Academic Staff, eight Research Staff and sixteen Research Students, has, since 2001, generated over 70 full scientific papers and more than 100 published scientific communications from both national and international conferences. Further details on focus research areas, current activities and opportunities are available at: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/faculty/science/diabetes/update/index.htm
Contact: Professor Peter R. Flatt; E-mail:
[email protected]
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