Obesity and diabetes are cutting short millions of lives, and scientists in Cambridge are pooling their expertise to find out exactly how genes and lifestyle collide to trigger these diseases. The problem is that while researchers know both genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors contribute to obesity and diabetes, they do not yet understand precisely how the two interact. Without that knowledge, prevention and treatment remain blunt instruments—applied broadly rather than tailored to the individual. This gap is urgent: these diseases are becoming more common, and diabetes brings with it blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. The researchers—a mix of fundamental scientists, clinicians, and public health experts—have already raised £20 million for a new building in Cambridge to serve as the hub. They are now asking the MRC to fund core research facilities, equipment, and specialised technical staff. The funding would also train more students in this relatively neglected area. If the centre succeeds, it will not produce a single pill or diet. Instead, it will generate the mechanistic understanding needed to target the right prevention and treatment to the right individuals—turning a scattergun approach into a precise one.
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Obesity is a major cause of premature death and disability. Obesity is particularly closely linked to the development of diabetes, with its attendant risks of blindness, kidney failure and amputation. These diseases are becoming more common. They both result from a combination of lifestyle factors and genetic susceptibility. Now that we are beginning to make strides in understanding the nature of these genetic and lifestyle factors, we need to better understand exactly how they interact to result in disease. When we do so, we will be in a much better position to target our attempts at prevention and treatment in the right way to the right individuals. This application comes from a group of scientists, some based in basic science laboratories, some working with patients, yet others working in the area of public health. We want to bring our individual skills and knowledge together to create a Centre for research in obesity and diabetes that is greater than the sum of its parts. Through charitable and other sources we have already raised #20M for a new building in Cambridge to act as the hub for this Centre and are now looking to the MRC to help us to provide the core research facilities (including equipment and specialised technical staff) required for our studies. The MRC funding would also enable us to increase the number of students we train in this important but relatively neglected area.
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