Research Description
Vision loss from diabetes is a major public health concern. However, current treatments are only effective in about 40 percent of people with diabetes. There is a critical need for new treatments of vision loss in people with diabetes. The Joslin Medalist Study has found a group of patients with a long duration of diabetes that are protected from vision loss. The study of this group has identified a potential factor that may protect the health of the eyes. We will determine whether this factor can provide protection in patients who have high levels of these factors. These findings can lead to studies in patients who have high risk of vision loss and new treatments of vision loss in people with diabetes.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?Ocular complications from diabetes are a major and expanding public health concern. The Joslin Medalist Study has found a group of people with a long duration of type 1 diabetes that is protected from severe ocular complications. The study of this group has identified potential factors that may protect the health of the eyes. This project aims to characterize these protective factors against ocular complications in people with diabetes. This will enable better management strategies in order to prevent ocular complications from diabetes.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?This project will help us better understand the different factors that may protect the health of eyes in people with diabetes. This will enable doctors to better treat and prevent the chances of developing ocular complications and vision loss in these patients.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?My younger sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Interest in diabetes eye research intensified during my clinical years as a resident in Ophthalmology. This Postdoctoral Fellowship Award will be instrumental in my research efforts to characterize protective factors against ocular complications which can benefit millions of people with diabetes to prevent or stop the development of devastating eye complications and vision loss.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?The results from recent diabetic eye studies support the idea that protective factors exist to prevent advanced eye complications in people with diabetes. Future studies will provide a wealth of information regarding these protective factors and will have a huge impact on the development of management strategies and new treatments for ocular complications and vision loss from diabetes.