The role of novel proteins in diabetes risk
25 February 2025
The research study will investigate the effects of glycogen sensing proteins found in the cells of our muscle. Research in the lead investigator’s laboratories has demonstrated that these proteins may contribute to insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). Yet we still don’t know how these proteins are negatively affected. However, we do know that both high levels of glucose and insulin have contributed to the development of insulin resistance.
Requirements
- Inclusion criteria for healthy iand for participants with pre-diabetes will be provided in detail upon application. However, the following criteria is applicable to all that wish to be involved.
- You are between 18 and 65 years of age.
- You must be able to commit to three visits to our laboratories. The study will involve:
- Willing to give frequent blood samples (a total of 10 small samples over the course of the trial) Each visit will require no more blood than that taken during a standard blood donation.
- Muscle biopsies will be drawn during visits 2, and 3 using a standard well-practised method. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the muscle biopsy site and to reduce the possibility of mild discomfort associated with this method. This procedure uses a ‘keyhole’ inclusion of 7 to 10 mm into the skin. A minimum of 14 days will separate 2 and 3 visits.
- Have your body composition measured and carry out exercise to the best of your ability.
Keywords
Ethical approval
The study has been approved by the University of Roehampton Health and Life Sciences ethics committee on 5 December 2024.
About the researcher
My name is Alex Rhodes, I am a doctoral researcher investigating the role of key proteins in skeletal muscle in the response to exercise and insulin stimulated glucose uptake. I work under the supervision of Dr Astrid Hauge-Evans and Dr Richard Mackenzie, lead investigators for research in diabetes. Our group is a partnership between the NHS National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) providers, NHS England, University Hospital Coventry, and Warwick (UHCW), University of Roehampton, Coventry University, Birmingham University, Oxford University and Monash University (Australia).
