Large new Danish diabetes research academy

The ambition of the Danish Diabetes Academy is to strengthen the quality of Danish diabetes research, and create a world-class research and education environment with the best researchers from both Denmark and abroad.

“The academy is open to all diabetes researchers who would like to make use of its offers. The vision is that collaboration cutting across the faculties and national borders will create a synergy effect that strengthens research in Denmark and internationally,” says Dean Allan Flyvbjerg, who will be the university’s representative on the Board of the Diabetes Academy.

The academy also aims to ensure diabetes research in the future. This will take place by offering a number of new research positions and events targeting talented young researchers, and providing them with the best possible opportunities for upskilling their qualifications and pursuing a career in this field.

“Diabetes is a major threat to our health, and the Danish Diabetes Academy provides an opportunity to find new solutions in the fight against type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This will benefit both diabetes research and diabetic patients throughout Denmark,” says Professor Henning Beck-Nielsen, Odense University Hospital, who will be director of the academy.

The affiliated researchers will be employed at universities and hospitals throughout Denmark.

The Danish Diabetes Academy came into being as the result of donations of more than DKK 200 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and DKK 40 million from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Finances amounting to more than DKK 50 million are being provided by the universities.

Over the next five years, the combined venture will contribute to financing approximately 150 new research positions in the form of 90 PhD positions, 50 postdoctoral fellowships, a number of professorships and some short-term visiting researcher positions for researchers from abroad. All in all, more than 300 researchers will be members of the academy.

“The Danish Diabetes Academy will be a combined virtual unit that provides researchers with an optimal framework for taking up the fight against diabetes. The aim with the academy is to strengthen the growth layer of research, and ensure research of the highest international quality,” says Ulf J. Johansson, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

FACTS

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an independent Danish foundation with corporate interests. It has existed since 1926, and the objective of the foundation is twofold: to provide a stable basis for the commercial and research activities conducted by the companies within the Novo Group; and to support scientific and humanitarian purposes.

Read more about the Novo Nordisk Foundation here.

About diabetes

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases in the world. In Denmark today, 290,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, and a further 250,000 people are considered to have the disease without knowing it. New figures show that the number of new cases of children and young people with type 1 diabetes is soaring, and has increased by 81 per cent since 1997. On a global plane, 366 million people are afflicted by the disease, which can lead to disabling eye and kidney damage. This number is expected to rise to 552 million by 2030.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually discovered when individuals are still in childhood, or in their teen or early adult years. With this type, the body produces little or no insulin. The body is therefore unable to regulate the blood sugar level itself, and this must be treated by daily insulin injections or with an insulin pump. The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, which means it cannot be prevented or cured. Type 2 diabetes most often affects adults and, in many cases, it is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, such as physical inactivity and poor eating habits. It is therefore possible to prevent type 2 diabetes to some degree. The disease is estimated to reduce life expectancy by an average of seven years. Approximately 90 per cent of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can cause a number of serious complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, permanent nerve damage, and cataracts. On average, twelve Danes die of diabetes every day, while 76 Danes are diagnosed with the disease every day. The number of diabetics has doubled in ten years and this costs the Danish community approximately DKK 86 million per day.

Source: Danish Health and Medicines Authority and Danish Diabetes Association

More information

• The university’s representative on the Board of the Danish Diabetes Academy:
  Dean Allan Flyvbjerg, phone: +45 5177 9548, email: alf@adm.au.dk