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In 2005, 3.2 million Australians were obese. Obesity is a serious and complex health problem, with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease its major complications. In 2005 there were 379,000 new cases of cardiovascular disease and 102,000 new cases of Type 2 diabetes caused by obesity. The health and economic burden for Australia is alarming: the total financial cost of obesity was estimated at $3.7 billion in 2005.
Adding to this existing burden are projections that obesity rates in Australia will double by 2025 - translating to 7.2 million obese Australians. The effect of this will be to see diabetes rates double, and the greatest pressure of these two rises will be on cardiovascular disease, which is already the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Conservatively, between 2025 and 2050, obesity alone will contribute to:
- 900,000 preventable hospitalisationsfor cardiovascular disease ($2.2 billion in hospital costs alone)
- 240,000 mainly premature deaths.
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The complications of diabetes include kidney disease, eye disease and vascular disease. It is a major factor in cardiovascular disease and the most common cause of kidney failure in the western world.
The only way to reduce the current disease burden of obesity and ensure that these projections are not realised is to understand it as a complex disease while investigating its molecular, cellular and physiological precursors and implications. The development too of sound preventative strategies informed and evaluated by research are imperative. If we can help reduce the development of new cases of obesity and diabetes, we will dramatically reduce the rate of death and disability, especially from cardiovascular disease now and in the future.
Reflecting this need, investigations into diabetes and metabolic conditions make up about 30 per cent of our research effort.
Across the institute, scientists at Baker IDI are striving to understand why people develop complications from diabetes, and importantly, understanding the mechanisms responsible for those complications. Research is directed at the development of new treatments to target the pathways within the body responsible for the development of diabetes and obesity-related disease. The current focus of research is on the development of new techniques for early diagnosis of complications, including gene and proteomic approaches; lifestyle interventions, and the development of drug therapies for use in cases where exercise and diet are not the simple answer.
Some research projects currently underway include:
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The development of drugs to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes to reduce the effects of diabetes
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The identification of a master molecular controller, responsible for turning genes “on” and “off”, and how this master switch underpins diabetic and metabolic disease
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How health and disease in one generation modifies genes and affects the next, predisposing infants to diabetes and obesity
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Community-based research understanding the incidence of symptomless kidney disease in Type 2 diabetes patients
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The comparison of advanced glycation end products (known as AGEs, these are formed when sugars in the blood attach to proteins in the body) measurements and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic patients to predict the development of cardiovascular disease
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The development of a new drug with the ability to reverse the detrimental effects of AGEs in the body, responsible for many of the diseases caused by diabetes
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The way key regulatory molecules that control cell differentiation are activated: research is showing that this damaging process can occur as a result of high glucose levels
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The identification of a new protein molecule, CDA1, has uncovered its anti-proliferation properties. Increasing the level of this protein in a cell stops cell division. The role of this protein in diabetic complications is being further investigated.
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The effectiveness of drug treatments in diabetic atherosclerosis, or a hardening of the arteries caused by the damaging effects of diabetes, as well as the effectiveness of dietary interventions in the prevention of this condition.
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The complexity of the metabolic changes that precede diabetes and the development of medication to mimic the effects of exercise in the body.
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The importance of breaking up sedentary activity as a way of lowering blood glucose levels and the development of type 2 diabetes.
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Tracking the progress of diabetes with AusDiab, the nation’s largest longitudinal study into the disease.
Our aim is to dramatically reduce the incidence of obesity and diabetes, two largely preventable causes of death and disability and an increasing strain on health budgets around the world. A research-led effort, with the development of sound community awareness, education and intervention programs will improve the health of those suffering, and those at risk of, these conditions. In this way, our work will have direct effects on future projections of diabetes and obesity and in turn reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, their major complication.