Translational Medicine Research Collaboration

Type 2 Diabetes is the commonest form of diabetes that typically affects middle aged and elderly people. It is rapidly becoming more common with more than 180 million people believed to be affected world-wide. This type of diabetes is a very important condition as it is a major cause of strokes, leg amputation, blindness and kidney failure. Scientists still do not understand what causes Type 2 diabetes but know it is a mix of environmental factors such as diet and also inherited genetic factors. The United Kingdom Case Control Study for Type 2 Diabetes is based at the University of Dundee. The aim is to collect DNA and details from 7,500 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 7,500 people without diabetes. This has been established in Tayside because there is already established an outstanding computer-based long-term follow up of patients. The DNA collected will form a resource for use by UK and international scientists working on Type 2 diabetes and will be distributed through a Steering Committee with representatives of all the major UK centres and the patients' organisation Diabetes UK. This large collection will enable scientists to define the genes involved in both the susceptibility to both developing diabetes and the development of long term complications. This knowledge will highlight the critical pathways that are altered when patients get diabetes, will give new opportunities to understand the cause of Type 2 diabetes and therefore will allow new strategies to treat and prevent this important condition to be developed.

Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Molecular Pharmacology Unit at the University of Dundee, are working on the factors involved in the uptake, metabolism and detoxification of chemicals. Such studies are important in understanding the causes of cancer and its prevention, as well as determining the activity of anticancer drugs. Research underway includes an investigation of an important group of enzymes called cytochrome P540s and how they respond to anticancer treatments. The work will help doctors in the future to select the best drug - and dose - and maximise the effectiveness of treatment while minimising the side-effects for cancer patients. The researchers also aim to produce new and more tailored anticancer drugs, with fewer side effects. A better understanding of the way anticancer drugs are processed will also help improve existing treatments. Another research Group is examining enzymes in a vital pathway called the MAP kinase pathway. These key enzymes help cells to respond to changes in their environment and are often faulty in cancer, including breast, lung, colon and pancreatic cancer. A new research programme aims to unravel the exact role of these enzymes in tumour development and identify those that could be targeted by new treatments.

State-of-the-art laboratories at the University of Dundee, host major research projects funded by the Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation and the Scottish Executive. Projects underway includes a study of heart and blood vessel behaviour in Primary 6 children in which researchers advise the children on how they can improve their cardiovascular health through changes in lifestyle and diet. Another Tayside Institute Cardiovascular Research -led project involves screening people with no symptoms or signs of heart disease, detecting early signs by a scan of the heart, and treating these patients actively in an attempt to prevent future heart attacks, stroke and leg amputation.