BioVitrum   Biovitrum combines the strength of a large organization, and its experience in documenting preclinical and clinical drug candidates, with rapid decision-making paths which allow both small and large projects to develop and achieve results.

Copenhagen University

Göteborg University  

Hagedorn Research Institute  
The Hagedorn Research Institute is an independent basic research component within Novo Nordisk A/S devoted to finding a cure for diabetes and its complications.

Imperial College, London  Prof Desmond Johnstone
The group is a clinical research group with interests in metabolic aspects of diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. We aim to discover some of the determinants of type 2 diabetes and its associated coronary heart disease. Firstly, we are following 1000 male employees of a large UK-based company who have been studied serially, and in depth, since the 1970s. Many of the patients have had intravenous glucose tolerance tests with mathematical modelling, lipoprotein subfraction analysis and measurement of haemostatic variables. The aim is to discover predictors of declining glucose tolerance and cardiovascular disease. Secondly, we are investigating cohorts of women with previous gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. These women are of different ethnic origin (predominantly European, Indian Subcontinent and African Caribbean) and have been followed from the mid 1980s. Aspects of insulin resistance, insulin secretion and intermediary metabolism are being studied, on the basis that early changes may be fundamental to type 2 diabetes. The pathogenesis of non alcoholic fatty liver disease, a frequent accompaniment of insulin resistance, is being investigated in sub groups of these women, using stable isotope and other techniques. Finally, we shall shortly begin a study of type 2 diabetes prevention in India (Chennai, Mumbai and Pune). Diabetes is a major problem in this country and the aim is to devise prevention strategies which can be widely applied and are relatively inexpensive, using mobile technology.

Lein Applied Diagnostics  Dr Dan Daly
Lein is developing a non-invasive platform technology to exploit the diagnostic properties of the eye. The primary product will be a non-invasive glucose meter for people with diabetes that will have the look and feel of a mobile phone. The user will simply look into it to measure their glucose level. This meter will eliminate the need for the more painful traditional finger stick solutions which have generated a £3.2bn global market that is growing at over 10% per annum.

Lund University, Cell & Matrix Biology   

Lund University, Department of Exp Med Science  

Medicon valley Alliance  

Medtronic  

MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee  Prof Tricia Cohen
My research in the area of diabetes has focussed on the regulation of glycogen metabolism by glycogen targeted protein phosphatase 1, which dephosphorylates and activates glycogen synthase and thus glycogen synthesis. One of the features of type 2 diabetes is increased hepatic glucose output into the blood plasma, which arises in part via enhanced glycogenolysis mediated by increased conversion of the rate limiting enzyme glycogen phosphorylase to its active (a) form. Hepatic glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis are inversely regulated by glycogen phosphorylase a, which allosterically inhibits glycogen targeted protein phosphatase 1 (PP1-GL), resulting in a net increase in phosphorylation and inhibition of glycogen synthase and hence glycogen synthesis. My studies indicate that blocking the interaction of phosphorylase a with the GL-regulatory subunit of PP1-GL is feasible with a small molecue drug. Such a drug should activate glycogen synthesis and lower plasma glucose levels, thereby providing an attractive anti-diabetic strategy.

NovoNordisk  

Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM)  Prof Mark McCarthy
The OCDEM is one of the major centres in Europe involved in diabetes research, training and clinical care: there are particular strengths in genetics, in islet cell biology and in the study of adipocyte function in vivo. The latter is one of the leaders internationally in defining the genetic basis of common diseases. My own group is particularly focused on the genetic and genomic basis of type 2 diabetes. We have interests in the following: * identification of novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of monogenic and multifactorial forms of non-autoimmune diabetes. Our group has been leading the T2D component of the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, which has been undertaking a genomewide association for type 2 diabetes in 5000 subjects: this approach has identified several novel diabetes susceptibility genes; * identification of biomarkers of diabetes progression and differential diagnosis; * development of statistical genetic and bioinformatic approaches to the dissection of complex traits; * translation of these findings into novel insights into the physiology, epidemiology, pharmacology and aetiopathogenesis of diabetes and related conditions.

Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM)  Prof Patrik Rorsman
Prof Rorsman worked in the laboratory of Bert Sakmann in Gattingen (Germany) 1984-85 were he learnt the patch-clamp technique and was one the first to apply it to pancreatic islet cells. He was Director of Islet Cell Physiology and Senior Research Scientist at Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen (Denmark) 1994-1997 and Professor of Membrane Physiology at Lund University (Sweden) 1997-2003. He was elected Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Oxford in 2003. His research focuses on the regulation of hormone secretion from the pancreatic islet cells. A number of high-resolution biophysical, optical and electrophysiological techniques are used to study the cell biology of pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon secretion. Currently, his work focuses on fundamental questions of pancreatic hormone release and attempts to answer questions like 1) What is the minimum dimensions of the pore connecting the granule interior with the exterior that allow exit of the peptide cargo 2) is membrane fusion obligatorily associated with peptide release and can low-molecular weight granule constituents be released independently of peptide release

Prosidion Ltd.  
(OSI) Prosidion is the diabetes and obesity R&D group within OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIP) dedicated to the discovery and development of novel drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. (OSI) Prosidion's lead compound PSN9301 is a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DP-IV) inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical trials. PSN010, a glucokinase activator licensed to Eli Lilly, is in Phase I clinical trials and PSN602, an orally efficacious 5-HT1A agonist and mono-amine reuptake inhibitor has been chosen as a pre-clinical development candidate from our S1RUP program for the long-term treatment of obesity. (OSI) Prosidion owns or has licensing rights to a portfolio of DP-IV medical use patents with claims covering DP-IV as a target for anti-diabetes therapy and the use of combinations of DP-IV inhibitors with other anti-diabetes drugs such as metformin. A number of non-exclusive licenses to the patent estate have been granted to major pharma companies. (OSI) Prosidion operates through OSI's wholly-owned subsidiary, Prosidion Limited, in Oxford, UK.

Steno Diabetes Centre  

UK Trade & Investment  Rodney Berkeley

University Hospital Odense  center of stem cell treatment
Treatment of diabetes using human embryonic stem cells

University of Cambridge  
The mission of the IMS MRL is to undertake basic and translational research relevant to the understanding, prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity and related endocrine and metabolic diseases. The scientists in the IMS MRL encompass a wide range of expertise, embracing genetics, cell biology, cell signalling, neuroendocrinology, bioenergetics, human and animal physiology, as well as clinical trials. There are close links with the MRC Epidemiology Unit which is co-located within the IMS, and collaboarations with investigators in other departments within the University of Cambridge. Particular interests include: Mechanism of action of insulin and IGFs (Professor Kenneth Siddle) The group focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying specificity in the actions of insulin and IGFs and on regulatory mechanisms that impact on insulin sensitivity (including the regulation of receptor expression and intracellular traffic, and the role of the Grb10/14 family of adaptor proteins and the impact of redox-regulatory components).

University of Leeds  Prof John Findlay
Our group have been pioneers in the retinol binding protein(RBP):RBP membrane receptor sytem. A number of seminal papers over the last year or two have demonstrated that elevations in serum RBP are deeply implicated ( indeed may be responsible for) the development of insulin resistance through attenuation of the intracellular responses to extracellular insulin. This effect appears to be mediated by the membrane receptor. Current studies are concerned with understanding this process, including the regulation of RBP synthesis and secretion, the role of visceral adipocytes and the intracellular pathways that link the RBP and insulin receptor systems. A further interest lies in the discovery of small molecules that might act as inhibitors. These may represent a whole new therapeutic approach to prevent the development of insulin resistance and thus type 2 diabetes.

University of Oxford  Laboratory of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics

ViroGates  
ViroGates commercializes soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR), the revolutionary health marker for use in Hospitals, Central Labs and General practice. The discovery of the protein suPAR led to the invention of ViroGates prognostic tool kit suPARnostic™ for monitoring changes in health incl. risks of developing lifestyle diseases and disease progression in patients. Offering products and services: suPARnostic™ ELISA Kit Research and Development Support Primary Business Focus: Technology (IP)Transfer New Product Development Research and Development Connection Interests: Distributors Licensing agreements Research and Development Pharmaceutical companies

Lin Bateson  BioPartner.co.uk
Lin is the project manager for the UK-MV Bioscience Alliance, organising this UK mission to Denmark and assisting with arrangements for the workshop.

To contact these delegates, send your enquiry to: info@biosciencealliance.eu