New insights from neonatal diabetes

Professors Hattersley and Ellard are together investigating the function and development of the human pancreatic beta-cell through genetic, functional, physiological and clinical studies of patients with neonatal diabetes. Neonatal diabetes is a rare monogenic subtype of diabetes that is diagnosed before six months. Their previous work led to hundreds of patients stopping insulin and achieving better control of their diabetes with sulphonylurea tablets. A rapid, comprehensive and international genetic testing service will provide a platform for recruitment and benefit patients throughout the world. They will use new DNA sequencing technology to identify novel genes, then characterise the gene defects using functional and physiological studies in patients.