How one particular type of protein could prevent a life-changing disease like diabetes
UBC researchers are decoding how diabetes develops at the molecular level.
In Dr Francis Lynn’s laboratory the team are looking at diabetes at the molecular level to understand its cause and ultimately how to prevent or reverse diabetes. Their work has identified a protein called NPAS4 that can reduce the likelihood of type 2 diabetes from developing.
UBC doctoral student Thilo Speckmann has shown how a protein NPAS4 reduces the likelihood of diabetes from developing. This research could one day lead to the development of a new therapy that raises levels of this protein or helps it work more effectively to stop the progression type 2 diabetes.
This research is supported by; Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, DIABETES CANADA and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.