- This means a lot. I can start a research group of my own and drive the research work faster, says Anders Rosengren.
The project he presented and, in tough competition with others, won the liking of the evalutaion committee, is about continuing the mapping of the mechanisms that explains the linkage between stress and diabetes.
Exact description
The linkage has previously been observed in several studies but when Anders Rosengren as a main author published his mapping in the magazine "Science" for less than six months ago, it was the first time the exact mechanism was described at a molecular level.
The possibility of a better treatment
- the discovery will open the road to a more precise diabetes diagnosis as well as a treatment directed to the underlying machanism of the disease. Not only towards the symptoms as today´s treatments, says Anders Rosengren.
He shows that the third of the population that carries a special genetic variant has extra stress sensitive insulin producing cells. At that population, the stress hormone adrenaline heavily impairs the ability to excrete insulin which increases the risk of developing diabetes with at least 30%.
Reset the capacity
In Science the researchers also shows that they in animal testing completely could reset the capacity of the insulin cells with an exisiting medicine.
- The goal of my research is definitely the patients, try developping more efficient treatments but much work remains before in can be a reality, says Anders Rosengren.
Continues as a physician
Everything happens very fast for him. He defended his thesis two and a half years ago. Became M.D. one year ago. And author in Science four months ago.
- I will conintue working halftime as a physician but with this contribution I can employ more co-workers.
The speed of the research will increase significantly.
Text: Tord Ajanki/Ulrika Blom-Nilsson
Press release about the article in Science:
Summary of the article in Science: